Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Puri, July 1:

The Shri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) has decided against climbing atop the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra during the world famous Rath Yatra in Odisha’s Puri.

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A meeting was held between the temple and district administration officials where the authorities discussed on smooth conduct of the annual Car festival to be held on July 6 this year.

As per the decision taken at the meeting, the SJTA decided not to allow devotees to climb atop the chariots. However, the devotees can touch the chariots at Saradhabali (near Gundicha Temple) after the chariots reach its destination on its onward journey. Special barricades would be put up to avoid any untoward situation.

“Devotees won’t be allowed to climb the chariots during Soona Besha, Adhara Pana and Niladri Bije like the previous year. We would install close circuit cameras around the chariots and strict action will be initiated if anybody violates the instructions. Barricades would be erected at a distance where devotees can touch the chariots,” SJTA chief administrator Suresh Chandra Mohapatra said.

It may be mentioned here that District Collector, SP and ADM will be given the responsibility to oversee the pulling of chariots respectively.

On the other hand, the temple administration has given a clean chit to the servitors for the Snana Yatra fiasco where some devotees, dressed as servitors, allegedly touched the deities on the Snana Mandap.

“Additional SP (Security) has given the report and I have also scanned the video recordings of the Sahana Mela ritual which was over around 10.30 am. When the barricades were opened, some devotees broke the cordon and entered into it. No servitor is seen taking the devotees to the Snana Mandap in the video recording of around 45 minutes,” SJTA chief administrator Suresh Chandra Mohapatra said.