With Covid-19 taking a back seat in Odisha, Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) on Thursday took an important decision to allow devotees for the forthcoming Snana Yatra and Ratha Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri this year.
As per SJTA sources, devotees will be allowed to get darshan of the Trinity by standing below the ‘Snana Mandap’ during the famous bathing rituals of the Lords prior to the car festival.
The all-important decision was taken at a meeting of SJTA officials with Daitapati Nijoga and other servitors of Lord Jagannath. It has also been emphasized in the meeting that the servitors will not be present on ‘Snana Mandap’ during the elephant attire (Gajanana Besha) of the Trinity.
The senior servitors have also discussed with the SJTA officials about allowing devotees’ for darshan of ‘Gajanana Besha’ from near the bathing altar in a disciplined manner. The servitors have also given an important suggestion to allow the devotees entry into ‘Snana Mandap’ two-three hours after the ‘Gajanana Besha’. Chhattisa Nijoga is also said to have given a proposal for two-three hours of ‘Sahana Mela’ darshan of Lord Jagannath.
“Smooth darshan of the Trinity will be ensured during the ‘Gajanana Besha’ on ‘Snana Mandap’. We have given a proposal to the administration to allow the devotees entry into ‘Snana Mandap’ two-three hours after the attire rituals,” said Ram Krushna Das Mohapatra, Secretary of Daitapati Nijoga.
“Emphasis has been given in the meeting on performance of all the rituals in a disciplined manner during Snana Yatra and Ratha Yatra,” said Ramchandra Das Mohapatra, senior servitor of Daitapati Nijoga.
Notably, the Ratha Yatra coordination committee meeting will be held in Puri tomorrow. On the other hand, Puri Collector Samarth Verma said the chariot construction work for the annual Rath Yatra festival will be conclude ahead of the schedule.