Views of Puri seer on rituals associated with Ratha Jatra will be sought: Gajapati

Puri: Following the Supreme Court’s stay on the annual Ratha Jatra and associated activities at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, Gajapati Dibyasingha Deb today said the Srimandir Managing Committee will seek the views from Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati on the issue and further steps will be taken thereafter.

Deb told mediapersons, “The apex court has stayed on Ratha Jatra outside Srimandir, but decision on rituals of the deities inside the temple will be taken after a discussion with the Puri Shankaracharya.”

The SC’s order on the Ratha Jatra will definitely hurt devotees. But, the apex court’s decision has to be carried out by everyone, Deb added.

He said that due to Mughal invasions in the past, the deities were shifted out of the 12th century shrine for safety as a result of which Ratha Jatra could not be held.

The state government considers that a similar situation has arisen due to the coronavirus outbreak due to which the Ratha Jatra could not be conducted this time, the Maharaja said.

The Gajapati Maharaja is the erstwhile king of Puri and he is considered the “Aadyasevak” or the first servitor of Lord Jagannath. He is also referred to as Thakur Raja of Puri.

In his reaction, BJP State President Samir Mohanty said the Supreme Court’s decision has to be accepted as this is what the Lord Jagannath wants.

“The country is going through an unprecedented situation. We have to accept the SC’s bold decision on the Ratha Jatra. Probably this is the Lord’s wish,” Mohanty said.

Earlier in the day, the apex court direct the Odisha government not to conduct Ratha Jatra this year. “There shall be no activity associated with the Ratha Jatra during this period. Lord Jagannath will not forgive us if we allow it,” the SC said in an order.

Also Read: BREAKING: SC Stays Holding Of World Famous Ratha Jatra In Puri

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