The move paves way for construction of chariots to be undertaken at Rath Khala in Odisha’s Puri, which falls in a green zone.
The Home Ministry on Thursday allowed construction activities in the Ratha Khala, which is situated on both sides of the Grand Road in front of the Jagannath temple office and the Sri Nahar palace, subject to fulfilling conditions.
The move paves way for construction of chariots to be undertaken at Rath Khala in Odisha’s Puri, which falls in a green zone.
Managing Committee sought permission to start the construction without any religious ceremony, prohibited in the lockdown. The religious Ratha Yatra is scheduled to take place on June 23, 2020. However, the MHA said the decision on holding ythe atra will be taken by the state government.
According to the MHA, no religious congregation takes place in the Ratha Khala as it is a workplace and not a public place.
However, for effective Covid-19 management, complete segregation of the Ratha Khala from adjouning Grand Road and adjoining properties by erectlng a cloth partition wall so that public can be effectively prohibited should be ensured, the MHA said.
Three richly decorated chariots, resembling temple structures, are pulled through the streets for the annual journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and their sister Devi Subhadra to their aunt’s temple, the Gundicha Temple which is situated at a distance of nearly 3 km from the main temple in the yatra.
During the annual event, thousands of devotees from all over the world throng Puri to be part of the ceremony which involves pulling the chariots.
Source: India Today
