AHMEDABAD: The 144th Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Ahmedabad on July 12 will be held with curfew imposed in all areas on the procession route. Given the pandemic situation, permission for the event has been given with restrictions “to preserve the faith of devotees”, minister of state for home Pradipsinh Jadeja said on Thursday.
The chariots of Lord Jagannath,
Devi Subhadra
and Lord
Balbhadra
will be accompanied by just five vehicles and a handful of persons to pull the chariots, as arrangements are being made to ensure that the procession returns to the temple in about five hours. Curfew will be imposed from 7am to 2pm in areas from where the procession will pass, Jadeja said
“The government has closely monitored the number of new Covid-19 cases every day. Simultaneously, it has considered how to preserve the faith of devotees and has decided to hold the Rath Yatra with stringent restrictions and protocols in place,” Jadeja told media persons on Thursday afternoon.
He added that the government was able to control the second wave of cases with great effort. “Stringent action will be taken against anybody who violates the curfew or restrictions and protocols,” the minister said.
“Instead of crowding the yatra route, we request people to watch the live telecast of the event on Doordarshan and other channels. We recently suffered the second wave of coronavirus cases. We must be very careful and make sure the festival does not aggravate the situation,” Jadeja said.
He added, “Since people from other districts and those living in the western parts of the city also flock to the route to watch the procession, police will regulate traffic on all bridges to keep people from going near the route.”
The state government is committed to ensure peace, safety and security during the 144th Rath Yatra procession on July 12. Only 20 Khalasees will be present to push each chariot after they have undergone mandatory RT PCR tests. This year, we have taken use of technology as a mini control room has been set up in all eight police stations that fall under the route of the yatra… The entire yatra will be monitored with CCTV surveillance and mobile vans equipped with CCTV cameras will also be on the route,” read the statement by Jadeja.
Ahmedabad: The Gujarat government on Thursday gave its nod for the 144th rath yatra of Lord Jagannath in Ahmedabad on July 12 with restricted participation and strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols and guidelines.
In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the state government has made it clear that except for three chariots and two other vehicles, no other vehicle, singing troupes, akhadas, elephants or decorated trucks will be allowed during the procession this time.
