Odisha: Centre nod to rath construction, yatra fate rests with state

Debabrata Mohapatra | TNN | Updated: May 8, 2020, 12:24 IST

Logs for rath construction lying on Grand Road in Puri

Bhubaneswar: The Centre on Thursday approved the state government’s proposal to start building the chariots for the Puri Rath Yatra, scheduled for June 23. It has also allowed the state to take a decision on whether to hold the festival this year.
Ministry of home affairs under-secretary Ashish Kumar Singh wrote to chief secretary Asit Tripathy, informing him of the Centre’s decision.
“The activity of the Rath construction is allowed to be undertaken in the ratha-khala (a workplace of chariot-making) situated on both sides of the Grand Road in front of the temple office and the royal palace, subject to some conditions. No religious congregation should take place at the construction site. Complete segregation of the ratha-khala should be ensured. The new lockdown guidelines issued by the MHA on May 1 should be compulsorily adhered to,” the letter said.
“The decision on holding the Rath Yatra should be taken by the state government keeping in view the conditions prevailing at that point of time,” the letter added.
The state government, which had sought the Centre’s approval for chariot work on Monday, has decided to ban everyone, save the carpenters making the chariots, from the site. “We will install barricades and put cloth walls around the spot,” a district official said.
Sources said the administration would also ready a special quarantine centre for the carpenters. At least 100 carpenters (Maharana and Bhoi sevaks) are likely to be engaged in the work.
“We are planning to ask the carpenters not to visit their families and other places till the completion of the chariots. Plans are afoot to prepare accommodation centres and other facilities for them,” another officer said.
Carpenters and servitors said the approval came a bit late. “Every day counts as chariot-making is a very tough task. It takes more than 45 days to build the chariots. Work should have started on Akshaya Tritiya on April 26,” said Bijay Maharana, chief carpenter of Lord Jagannath’s chariot Nandighosh.