The coronavirus from last year has wreak havoc across the country with new strains. The traditional gaiety on Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath was missing due to COVID-induced curbs. Just like the last year, Bengal authorities at the much-revered Mahesh temple in Hooghly district cancelled all festivities in the wake of COVID-related restrictions, and ISKCON temples in the city. Mayapur marked the occasion with muted celebrations.

The Kolkata temple of International Society for Krishna Consciousness also had to put off its 50th year celebrations amid the pandemic-induced restrictions. This is the time of year when Lord Jagannath travel in a decorated carcade, along with his divine siblings, as part of the rituals. This year no chariot was taken out on the streets, in a departure from tradition. The cavalcade travelled a distance of three kilometres from Alfred Road premises to the organisation's office on Gurusaday Road. In Mayapur, the global headquarters of ISKCON, a makeshift Gundicha temple was set up on the courtyard, where the three deities Sri Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra Devi will be putting up for nine days. As per the instructions, only 50 servitors and devotees were allowed to pull a chariot in the temple complex during the day

Similarly, temple authorities in Mahesh performed all rituals, with just a handful of locals visiting the shrine to offer obeisance. As per the custom, the 'narayan shila' at the shrine was taken to another temple, which represented the aunt's house. The ritual was performed by local Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee. Also, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sent offerings to the deities at ISKCON temple here on the occasion.

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