Final preparations are on ahead of the Rath Yatra in Puri town of Odisha which is scheduled to take place on July 12. Workers, priests have geared up ahead of the big day as the Rath Yatra is one of the biggest yatras which is held every year. Lakhs of devotees participate in the yatra, however amid the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, the Supreme Court has granted permission for the Jagannath Rath Yatra 2021 to take place in a limited radius, which is welcome news for devoted believers. Rath Yatra is a festival associated with Lord Jagannath held at Puri annually in the state of Odisha.
On July 12, this Rath Yatra would take place just in a small radius around Puri. No devotees to be allowed in the Yatra due to COVID-19.
All the preparations are in full swing, the administration is ready keeping the COVID protocol in place and safety measures too are taken care of. Take a look at the video:
The 15-day long festival was celebrated with much gusto and fervour in Odisha, Bhubaneswar. The temple town of Puri attracts tourists from across the globe who visit the place, just to get a glimpse of the Lord and witness the majestic Rath Yatra.
However, this year due to the deadly novel coronavirus COVID-19 second-wave outbreak, restrictions have been imposed.
The Odisha government has deployed 65 platoons of force along with senior officers to look after the security arrangements for the festival, the police said on Saturday.
"All preparations for the festival have been made. Arrangement from police administration has also been done. A detailed plan to ensure foolproof security has been chalked out," Additional Director General (law and order), R.K. Sharma, said on Saturday.
The entire city has been divided into 12 zones. Along with the 65 platoons, 10 senior officers of additional SP rank have been deployed for the festival, Sharma said after reviewing the security arrangements in Puri.
The police force will not only provide security, but also ensure proper enforcement of Covid-19 guidelines like social distancing and wearing masks, sources said.
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