Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra today: For the second year in a row, devotees without Jagannath parikrama, social distancing from three different chariots, message of quarantine from Ansar

Chief priest of Puri temple Janardan Pattajoshi Mohapatra told the importance of Rath Yatra in the context of Korenakal

There is a saying in Puri ’12 months 13 festivals’. This is because the traditions here are followed with a very dedicated spirit. Due to the Corona period, 3 km journey of Lord Jagannath will be done without devotees on Monday for the second consecutive year. According to Janardan Pattajoshi Mohapatra, the chief priest of the temple, new chariots are built every year for the Rath Yatra. Preparation is done on Basant Panchami from wood collection and chariot construction from Akshaya Tritiya.

On this day the 21-day sandalwood journey of Lord Jagannath begins. During this, on Snan Purnima, Jagannathji, Balabhadra and Subhadra are bathed with 108 urns. When all three fall ill when this happens, they are kept in a secluded room (quarantine). For the next 15 days, Mahaprabhu is offered fruits and medicines without offering fifty-six bhog. Jagannathji becomes healthy on Amavas and a day before the Rath Yatra, his youthful darshan is offered to the devotees. It is also called eye vision.

The Rath Yatra will begin lawfully on Monday morning with Mangala Aarti. Sona patalagi, pohandi will be the method of vije. Sona Patalagi is the policy in which silk strings are tied around the bodies of the three brothers and sisters so that they do not get hurt while being taken from the temple to the chariot. Before leaving the temple, Mahaprabhu is put on a crown of flowers, which is called Tahiya.

After boarding the chariot, the Maharaja of Puri, who is the first servant of Jagannath ji, will perform the ritual of Chhera Pohra. In this method he will sweep the corridor around the throne of the chariot with a broom studded with gold. For hundreds of years this ritual has been giving the message of cleanliness. The three brothers and sisters go in three separate chariots. This tradition, which has been going on for centuries, has been giving the message of Do Gaj Doori (Social Distancing).

On July 21, Mahaprabhu will give darshan wearing gold ornaments, will give chariot wood to the donors on immersion.
Priest Janardan Pattajoshi Mohapatra told that on July 21, Mahaprabhu will appear on the chariot wearing a golden ornament. When they start entering the temple, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarshan will be allowed to enter the temple, but Lakshmi’s representative will block the path of service Jagannath. Then there will be a scuffle between the representatives of both. In the end Lord Jagannath will convince Lakshmi. At the end of the Rath Yatra, the chariot is immersed.

The materials used in the chariot are going to be biodegradable. These woods are used for other godly purposes except worship. Some part is used in the kitchen of the temple or parts of the chariot like wheel, throne, umbrella and idols are given to the big donors of the temple.