The 144th Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath will be taken out from the temple of Lord Jagannath located in Jamalpur area today. Before the start of Rath Yatra today, Union Home Minister Amit Shah took part in Mangal Aarti at the temple. Only a limited number of people will be allowed to participate in the Rath Yatra and during this time the guidelines related to corona virus will be strictly followed.
In view of the corona virus epidemic, except for only three chariots and two other vehicles, no vehicle is allowed to participate in the Rath Yatra. This time, singing troupes, akhadas, elephants or decorated trucks will not be allowed during the Rath Yatra. ‘This time it has been planned to complete the journey in four to five hours. Curfew will be implemented on the entire route from morning till noon so that people do not congregate on the route of Rath Yatra.
This time a large number of people will not gather in Saraspur during the lunch break. With the passing of the Rath Yatra in the afternoon, the curfew will be lifted from the areas falling on the route. As per the tradition, like every time, the youth of the Khalasi community will pull the three chariots including Lord Jagannath. This time only 60 youths have been allowed to pull the chariots, out of which 20 youths will pull each chariot.
It has been made mandatory for every person participating in the Rath Yatra to show a negative RTPCR report. Apart from this, priority will be given to people who have taken both doses of corona vaccine. Every person participating in the Rath Yatra will have to wear a mask and also follow the rule of physical distance.
Last year, in view of the Corona epidemic, the Gujarat High Court did not grant permission to take out the Rath Yatra, after which the Rath Yatra was organized symbolically in the temple of Lord Jagannath located in Jamalpur area. Traditionally, the Rath Yatra departs from the temple of Lord Jagannath at 7 am and returns to the 400-year-old temple by 8 pm.
Before the Corona epidemic, lakhs of people used to participate in this world famous Rath Yatra every year. The enthusiasm of the people to catch a glimpse of the tableaux and decorated elephants present on about 100 trucks was a sight to behold. After covering a distance of 19 kms, this Rath Yatra returns back to the temple of Lord Jagannath over a period of about 12 hours. During this, the Rath Yatra also stops for an hour.