Rath Yatra construction to kickstart; chariot logs will be used as fuel if festival gets cancelled

The Jagannath Temple Managing Committee has agreed to permit the construction of the three chariots used for the iconic Rath Yatra in Odisha’s Puri. However, there is still uncertainty regarding whether the festival will be held this year, given the prevailing crisis due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

According to the news reports, the King of Puri, Gajapati Dibyasingh Deb, who also heads the managing committee of the Jagannath Temple, told the press that the chariot construction is not a religious function, and it is allowed in all COVID-19 zones. He also assured that all the health safety measures and guidelines will be followed while building the chariots at Rahta Khala (the open area on either side of the Grand Road in Puri).
The Rath Yatra is due for June 23. It is one of the most significant festivals in Odisha, celebrated over a period of 10 days and attended by uncountable people. However, the Jagannath Puri Temple has been closed to the public since March 20. Only the priests are performing the daily rituals in the temple.

On Monday, during a videoconferencing, the temple management committee came to the decision that if the lockdown in Puri is extended further and the Rath Yatra cancelled, chariot logs will be disintegrated and used as a fuel in the temple kitchen for cooking the Mahaprasada.
Reportedly, the committee will take the call about organising the Rath Yatra once the lockdown restrictions are lifted on May 17. The decision to go ahead or postpone the Snana Yatra of the deities (a sacred bathing ritual) will also be taken in the forthcoming meeting.

The Rath Yatra festival is a long-standing tradition of 425 years. According to the historical records, it had been cancelled 32 times before, primarily due to invasions. It was cancelled for the first time in 1568.
Jagannath Puri temple houses the wooden idols of Hindu deity Krishna and his siblings Balarama and Subhadra. It is one of the char dhams (four prominent temples) in India.