Sweet end to Rath Yatra amid Covid curbs, administration breathes easy

BHUBANESWAR: Rath Yatra, which started on July 12, ended on Friday with the deities back on the bejewelled platform (Ratna Singhasana) inside the 12th century shrine, marking Niladri Bije.
As per schedule, the Mahajan servitors of the temple first took the idols of Rama and Krushna from the Taladhwaja chariot and the idol of Madan Mohan from Nandighosh chariot into the shrine in a ceremonial Pahandi procession. Lord Sudarshana, the divine weapon of Lord Jagannath, was the next to be carried from Devidalana chariot to the temple. Later, the sibling deities Balabhadra, Subhadra and Jagannath were taken inside the shrine.
“From Rath Yatra to Niladri Bije, all the rituals were performed and completed before schedule in a smooth and disciplined manner. The credit goes to the servitors,” said Krishan Kumar, chief administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administrations.
The district administration and Puri police heaved a sigh of relief as the days went off peacefully and the rituals were conducted by ensuring Covid-safety norms.
“It was a big challenge to ensure strict adherence to Covid protocols, enforce curfew during the festival and keep the devotees away from the Grand Road and Puri. We are happy that the devotees, especially the residents of Puri, extended wholehearted cooperation,” Puri district collector Samarth Verma said.
“We would not have succeeded without the support and cooperation of the devotees and locals from Puri. Our personnel, too, gave of their best to make Rath Yatra peaceful,” Puri SP Kanwar Vishal Singh.