The famous Puri’s Rath Yatra can be conducted this year but with restrictions, curfew and closed city entries, the Supreme Court said on June 22. The decision comes after petitions asking it to recall its earlier order, banning the hugely popular festival. The Odisha government will have to declare curfew whenever the chariots are pulled. It also has to ensure that each of the three chariots is pulled by a maximum of 500 people, which would include the police personnel and officials, the top court said. The seven-day festival, attended by lakhs of people, begins from June 23. The temple administration has been tasked with ensuring that all restrictions are being followed. Soon after the initial comments of the court, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik tweeted, “Jai Jagannath”. Odisha has already declared a curfew-like shutdown that began at 9 pm on June 22 and will continue till 2 pm on June 23. The Rath Yatra from the Jagannath temple, the biggest temple of the Lord Jagannath in the coastal district of Puri, is attended by lakhs of people from across the world. But considering the highly contagious coronavirus, the Supreme Court had ordered a ban on the festival this year, saying "Such gatherings can't take place at the time of the pandemic.” Soon after the decision, Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed the top court’s decision. In a series of tweets, Amit Shah said the entire nation is delighted adding that PM Narendra Modi had personally intervened to ensure that the festival is celebrated.
