Jagannath Rath Yatra

The annual Jagannath Rath Yatra began in Udaipur on Friday amid heavy security arrangements, three days after a tailor was brutally murdered in the city triggering communal tensions. Special permission was given by the district administration to take out the procession as a curfew was clamped in seven police station areas on Tuesday night following the murder of tailor Kanhaiya Lal. Thousands of people attended the procession, which is expected to take several hours to cover its 7-km-long route. Around 3,000 policemen have been deployed in the city to maintain law and order. ADG Dinesh M N, who is camping in Udaipur, said the deployment of policemen for the yatra this year is three times higher than the previous occasions. "We hope that the yatra goes well. Senior officials have been deployed on key points. Volunteers of the organisers are also working in close coordination with police," he said. The annual yatra is being organised after a gap of two years as it could not be held

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel performed the 'Pahind Vidhi' - a symbolic ritual of cleaning the way for the chariots using a golden broom before the start of the Rath Yatra

The Ratha Yatra, also known as the Chariot Celebration of Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Balabhadra, is the most prominent Hindu festival in the Puri city of Odisha

As the countdown for the much-awaited Ratha Yatra of Lord Jagannath begins, thousands of devotees from across the country have started thronging this pilgrim town

As the nine-day long festival, Rath Yatra began in Odisha from Monday, a two-day curfew has been imposed and a total of 65 platoons of police force have been deployed across the city

The 144th annual rath yatra of Lord Jagannath began in Gujarat's Ahmedabad city on Monday morning, but it was devoid of the usual festive fervour and crowds due to the curfew imposed on its route

The Jagannath Temple administration informed Ratha Yatra festival would be organised without participation of devotees and in strict adherence to safety protocols to contain the spread of coronavirus

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik sought the cooperation of all including devotees for the smooth conduction of Lord Jagannath's annual Ratha Yatra this year with strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols

Last year, only a symbolic rath yatra was organised in the premises of the Lord Jagannath temple in Jamalpur area

The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed pleas seeking permission to conduct 'rath yatras' at various places other than Jagannath Puri in Odisha

The annual Rath Yatra of Lord Shree Jagannath in Puri will be held this year and servitors who have received vaccine shots and test negative for Covid-19 will be allowed to attend rituals

Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik called upon all to adhere to the Supreme Court's order and Covid-19 guidelines to make the return journey of Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra in Puri successful

But in 21st century India, religion, appears to get a carte blanche during Covid-19

Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Lord Balabhadra and sister Goddess Subhadra are currently seated on their respective chariots

The shutdown came into effect from 9 pm on Monday

In pictures: Jagannath Rath Yatra begins across the country

In order to prevent any congregation, a curfew-like shutdown has been imposed across Puri district from 9 pm on Monday till 2 pm on Wednesday

A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde directed the state government to impose curfew in the Puri City during the time when the chariots are taken out in the procession

The top court said it is considering the issue of conducting Rath Yatra in Puri only and not at other places in Odisha

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will pay a three-day visit to Russia beginning today to attend a grand military parade in Moscow amid coronavirus pandemic

The Puri Rath Yatra, which is attended by hundreds of thousands of people from across the world, is scheduled from June 23