New Delhi: One of the servitors of the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri tested positive for the coronavirus infection during the mandatory testing of priests and police personnel ahead of the curtailed Rath Yatra, which began on Tuesday.
The servitor will not be part of any ritual related to the Rath Yatra, a senior official told news agency PTI.
Samples of 1,143 servitors were tested on Monday night, after the Supreme Court allowed the yatra to go ahead without the presence of any devotees. “Except one, reports of all the others came out negative. The servitor who tested positive has been shifted to a COVID-19 hospital,” the official said, adding that contact tracing has been initiated.
Covid 19 Tests of 1143 Servitors were undertaken on 22.6.2020 as per hnbl Supreme Court instructions .Except one all are found negative.Confirm case has been shifted to Covid Hospital before Rath Yatra rituals , Contact tracing is being done and Area has been contained.
— PuriOfficial (@Puri_Official) June 23, 2020
The apex court had earlier banned the ritual entirely, but changed its mind after the state government submitted a fresh affidavit saying the Rath Yatra at Puri will be conducted “in a limited way without public attendance”.
Each chariot would be pulled by not more than 500 people and all of them have to test negative for the coronavirus infection, the top court said.
It also directed that those engaged in pulling the chariots shall maintain social distancing before, during and after the Rath Yatra.
Also Read: SC Explains Why It Changed Its Mind on Rath Yatra Despite COVID-19 Fears
Rituals begin
The rituals involve the pulling of three chariots – Lord Jagannath’s Nandighosh, his brother Lord Balabhadra’s Taladwaja and sister Devi Subhadra’s Darpadalan.
Amid blowing of conches and beating of cymbals, the ceremonial procession of the deities known as “Pahandi” – carrying the deities on chariots out of the temple – took place on Tuesday morning. Visuals of the ceremony do not show the servitors and priests following social distancing norms.
#WATCH Idol of Lord Jagannath being brought to the chariot by priests and ‘sevayats’ for the Rath Yatra from Jagannath Temple in Puri#Odisha pic.twitter.com/b26LHX2jAi
— ANI (@ANI) June 23, 2020
The chariots will be pulled to Gundicha temple in Puri, which is around 3 km from the Jagannath temple.
The festival ends after nine days when the deities make their way back to the Jagannath temple.
“All are cooperating for the smooth functioning of Rath Yatra as per the Supreme Court order. I request all devotees to stay at home and watch the live telecast of the festival,” said Balwant Singh, Puri district collector said, according to news agency IANS.
(With agency inputs)