Bhubaneswar: Expressing discontent over Supreme Court’s directive for cancellation of Puri Rath Yatra this year, Puri Shakaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati on Sunday termed it as a well-orchestrated plan to stop the annual event.
“On June 20, the Supreme Court could have accepted the review petitions. There are precedents of the apex court being opened and rulings given during vacations,” said Shankaracharya.
The Puri Seer further stated that, “As only one day is now left for Rath Yatra, it appears that it is a well-orchestrated plan to stop Rath Yatra as the verdict also came just before the court closed for summer vacation.”
Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb on Saturday urged Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik to re-consider the sensitive issue of stopping Puri Rath Yatra this year. In a letter, Puri King requested the State government to approach the Supreme Court seeking partial modification of its June 18 order so that centuries-old festival can be conducted only at Puri as a special case.
Dibyasingha Deb also mentioned that the present Covid pandemic is not a situation which renders impossible the conduct of Rath Yatra, since as covidsuggested by the Srimandir managing committee in its meeting on May 30, the yatra in Puri can be held without any public congregation.
Odisha BJP president Samir Mohanty today also urged Odisha government to accept the application regarding Rath Yatra made by Puri Gajapati Maharaj.
“Puri Shankaracharya is ready to have a discussion with officials and other representatives of State government. The State government should also take immediate steps in this regard as Puri Shankaracharya has a special role to play in the rituals and other nitis of Srimandir,” said Mohanty.
Echoing similar views, Puri Srimandir Managing Committee member, Raghunath Mohapatra said, “The submission in Supreme Court that there would be a congregation of 10 to 12 lakh devotees during Rath Yatra is wrong.”
Mohapatra further said Gajapati Maharaj’s letter to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik are the views of Puri Shankaracharya, Chhatisa Nijog and others.
“All important rituals including Adhara Pana are conducted on the chariots and how can such rituals take place inside Gundicha temple,” questioned Mohapatra.
Also Read: Allow Rath Yatra In Puri As Special Case: Gajapati To CM Naveen