Lord Jagannath Won’t Forgive Us If We Allow This Year’s Rath Yatra: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has stayed this year's Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

A bench of Chief Justice SA Bobde and Justices Dineesh Maheshwari and AS Bopanna said that in the interest of public health and safety of citizens, this year's Rath Yatra at Puri in Odisha can't be allowed.

“Lord Jagannath won't forgive us if we allow this year's Rath Yatra to go on, as such a huge gathering can't take place during the pandemic,” Bobde said.

The bench also told the Odisha government to not allow the Rath Yatra or pilgrimage procession and related activities anywhere in the state to avoid spread of coronavirus.

The top court's order came on a public interest litigation filed by an Odisha-based non-governmental organisation that sought cancellation or postponement of the event.

This year’s Rath Yatra was slated to begin on June 23. The nearly fortnight-long festivities is attended by millions of devotees from across the world.