The curfew imposed on the route of the procession will ensure that citizens will have to see the Lord of the world from their homes.
Jagannathji temple trustee Mahendra Jha said during a media interaction on Friday, “We are happy that we will take out the procession.” “We are committed to following covid guidance. ”
Jha told the media that there will be two batches of chariot pullers for the first time. “The first batch will pull three chariots from the temple to Saraspur, and the second will pull them from Saraspur to the temple,” he said.
He said there would be no stop on the route, and only a five-minute break at Saraspur for exchanges while the chariots are greeted for the Mameru ritual.
There will be 20 chariot pullers of Khalasi community on each chariot. They will need a negative RT-PCR report to participate
“Every year the Mahant’s chariots and car are greeted at 200 places along the route, but this time there will be no such event. We appeal to everyone to watch the procession on TV and not to come on the streets. Mahant Dilipdasji also appealed to the devotees to pray from home.
Temple officials said sprouted green gram to be given as prasad to citizens during the procession would be distributed from the temple premises. “In view of the demand of the devotees, the distribution of prasad will be done till then” Guru Purnima (24 July). It will not be given in the way,” Jha said. Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja along with senior officials including state DGP Ashish Bhatia met the temple officials to finalize the preparations.
The city police also conducted a rehearsal on the route, indicating that police deployment would be the usual scale, even if the procession was reduced to five vehicles. Talking to the media after the discussion, Jadeja said that the procession is a matter of faith of lakhs of people.
“We are conducting it with all precautions. There will be 20 chariot pullers from here Khalasi community with each chariot. All will participate after a negative RT-PCR test,” he said.
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