Devotees throng city temple on Rath Yatra

Ranchi: The district administration had a tough time keeping the devotees away from the Jagannath temple in Dhurwa on Monday on the occasion of Rath Yatra though the state government had suspended processions and allowed only customary rituals to be conducted behind closed doors.
Chief minister Hemant Soren and his wife Kalpana Soren visited the temple but they did not step inside and prayed from outside the Dol Mandap, where the deities are kept. Praveer Shahdeo, a descendent of the temple’s founder Ane Nath Shahdeo, said, “We had invited the CM today as he visits the temple every year during the Rath Yatra.”
Meanwhile, devotees arrived at the temple in large numbers despite the restrictions. Abhishek Roshan, a member of the Rath Mela Suraksha Samiti, said, “Hundreds of people had gathered at the entrance gates of the temple since early in the morning. However, the gates remained shut.”
Police said throughout the day, they requested the devotees on loudspeakers to avoid gatherings but didn’t work. SP (city) Saurav said, “Many people from the rural areas arrived since they didn’t know that gatherings were restricted this year also. Police are carrying out a drive to inform people that fairs and gatherings are not allowed. The administration would set up drop gates on the roads leading to the temple from Tuesday to stop the devotees. Around 700 police personnel would be engaged to implement the government’s restrictions during the nine-day event.”