Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra begins
BHUBANESWAR: Forthefirst timein its history, thefamousrathyatra of the Jagannath temple in Puri, Odisha, beganontuesdaymorning with priests pulling the three colourful chariots of the presiding deities in the absence of the tensofthousandsofdevoteeswho typically throng the town every year for the annul event.
Around 1,500 priests of the iconic 12th centurytemplemilled around the wooden chariots which they started pulling from the maintempletothegundicha temple amid the beating of cymbals and drums in praise of the Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra.
The pulling of the chariots -
Nandighosh, Taladwajaanddarpadalana- is theforemostritualof the festival. It was performed by the priests who had been tested for Covid-19 on Monday.the Supreme Court on Monday allowedtheconductoftherawth Yatra, recalling its June18order thatprohibitedtheevent, butlaid downstrictconditions, including a ban on pubic attendance and theimpositionofacurfewinpuri during the festivities.
The erstwhile King of Puri, Gajapatidibyasinghadeb, whois also the first servitor of the Lord, performed the Chhera Panhara, aritual sweeping of the chariots, before they were pulled by the priests. “It’s hard to imagine Rath Yatra without devotees on Badadanda (Grand Road). But Lord Jagannath stepped out of temple for the whole universe.” Puri Govardhan Peeth Shankaracharya Nischalananda Saraswatipaidobeisanceatopthechariots along with his disciples.
Until Monday afternoon, uncertainity clouded the Rath Yatra as a three-judge bench of SC led by chief justice SA Bobde hearddozensofinterventionpetitions seeking recall of the court’s June 18 order.