Puri: Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) chief administrator Krishan Kumar on Saturday informed that only servitors of Srimandir will pull the chariots of Holy Trinity during the annual Rath Yatra.
The SJTA chief administrator announced this following the Chattisa Nijog meeting held this evening.
“Prior to the Rath Yatra, all participants will undergo the COVID-19 test,” Kumar said and added that “like last year, police forces will be deployed for the Dakhina Moda, the southward turn of the chariots.”
This year also, the nine-day-long sojourn of Lord Jagannath and his siblings- Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra- will be held under strict observance of COVID-19 precautionary guidelines on July 12.
Only the Sevaytas will pull be engaged in pulling the chariots and no officials from the temple or district administration will be allowed for the same. The participants will be vaccinated by the administration and will be provided with masks, sanitizers, and a towel.
Servitors engaged in pulling chariots will not be allowed to take photos and they have been restricted from carrying mobile phones and cameras.
On July 8, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will be reviewing preparations for the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri. He will chair a high-level meeting with several senior officials through virtual mode.
