New Delhi : The Supreme Court has banned the Puri Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath due to Coronavirus. The court prohibited the historic Rath Yatra and related activities to be held in Odisha, Puri in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lord Jagannath will forgive us if we stay the Rath Yatra this year. Such gatherings can't take place at the time of the #COVID19 pandemic. In the interest of public health and safety of citizens, Rath Yatra can't be allowed this year: Supreme Court https://t.co/4qNAIwDbyN pic.twitter.com/5daPuqZvQH
— ANI (@ANI) June 18, 2020
The Supreme Court has banned the Jagannath Puri annual Rath Yatra to be held in Odisha on June 23. The court has said that in the wake of the coronavirus, this rath yatra is being banned. Preparations for the Rath Yatra were almost complete. The court said that Rath Yatra cannot be allowed this year in view of public interest and safety of people.
The Supreme Court said, “Lord Jagannath will not forgive us if we allow Rath Yatra this year. There may not be such a big gathering during the pandemic.” In view of the corona virus epidemic, an NGO named Odisha Development Council had filed a petition in the Supreme Court and this year demanded a ban on Rath Yatra.
The petition said that there is a high risk of corona infection spread due to Rath Yatra. If the Supreme Court can ban the burning of firecrackers in Diwali keeping in mind the health of the people, then why can’t the Rath Yatra be banned. Because of which this year Lord Jagannath’s Puri Rath Yatra has been banned.