Puri Ratha Jatra: No darshan even from rooftop, terrace, balcony

Puri: Modifying the previous guidelines regarding Ratha Jatra here, the district administration today announced that even residents of houses and buildings alongside Bada Danda (Grand Road) will not be allowed to watch the car festival of Lord Jagannath from their terrace.

People will be not allowed to witness the festival from terrace and balcony of 41 lodges and dharmasalas and around  230 houses located alongside Bada Danda as it comes under the purview of curfew restrictions. All lodges and Dharmasalas will be vacated from July 10, said Collector Samarth Varma.

Earlier at a meeting held between servitors and district Collector yesterday, it was decided that only family members of houses and buildings alongside Bada Danda can watch the festival from their respective terraces.

Also Read: No Visitors Allowed Into Puri For Ratha Jatra; Hotels Not To Accept Bookings

Besides, prohibitory orders under Section-144 will be imposed in Bada Danda to maintain law and order. The entire pilgrim town will be divided into 12 zones (Bada Danda into four zones).

A detailed SOP for the festival will be issued later in the day following a virtual meeting of Chattisa Nijog and Srimandir management committee under the chairmanship of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) Chief Krishan Kumar today.