The state will assess the situation and if need be, take steps to restrict festivities, the court further added
NEW DELHI| On Monday Apex Court said a call on Puri’s famous rath yatra can be taken by the Odisha government after the petitions asking it to recall its earlier order of banning the hugely popular festival.
The state will assess the situation and if need be, take steps to restrict festivities, the court further added. The seven-day festival is slated to being from tomorrow.
Offering to impose a curfew for a day to ensure that the virus does not spread, the Centre had said that it is a “matter of faith for crores” and a ritual “going on for centuries cannot be interested with.”
“The tradition of centuries may not be stopped,” the Centre said while seeking modification of the apex court’s June 18 order staying the yatra.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who represented the Centre, had told the Supreme Court, “Only people tested negative (for coronavirus) and working in the Lord Jagannath temple can be part of the ritual… If Lord Jagannath will not come out tomorrow, he cannot come out for 12 years as per traditions.”
The Puri Rath Yatra is attended by lakhs of people from across the world and is scheduled to be held from June 23.
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