If Lord Jagannath will not come out tomorrow, he cannot come out for 12 years: Centre bats for Puri Rath Yatra sans public participation

Seeking modification of the Supreme Court's June 18 order staying this year's Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra, the Central government today prayed that the annual event be held without public participation.The matter was mentioned by the Centre before the Bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra. The Court has agreed to hear the matter later today..The matter is scheduled to be heard by a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde..After the Court's June 18 order, the Centre as well as the State of Odisha are before the Supreme Court in support of carrying out the Rath Yatra in Odisha this year, albeit with some restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19..While mentioning the modification application, the State of Odisha supported the Centre's plea for allowing the Rath Yatra to maintain the tradition.Solicitor General for India Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, told the Court,."A ritual going on for centuries should not be interfered with. The Centre has some suggestions with regard to the Rath Yatra."Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.[Breaking] "Lord Jagannath won't forgive us if we allow it", Supreme Court stays annual Rath Yatra in Puri due to COVID-19.SG Mehta suggested that the rituals may be telecast live for the devotees and a one-day curfew be imposed to ensure no large congregation takes place.."If Lord Jagannath will not come out tomorrow, he cannot come out for twelve years as per traditions. While maintaining the precautions to ensure that pandemic is not spread, Odisha government can impose curfew for a day."Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.On June 18, while staying this year's Rath Yatra, the three-judge Bench of Chief Justice of India SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and Dinesh Maheshwari had noted,"A procession of this magnitude cannot be permitted at the time of a pandemic."."The annual Rath Yatra this year is scheduled for June 23. The festivities usually go on for 20 days. Having regard to the danger and public safety of citizens, we direct State of Odisha to not conduct any Rath Yatra this year. There shall be no activity associated with the rath yatra during this period. Lord Jagannath will not forgive us if we allow it."Supreme Court's order dated June 18.The order was passed in a plea by rights organisation Odisha Vikas Parishad, which sought a stay on the possible celebration of the annual Rath Yatra at Puri's Jagannath Temple on June 23, in the backdrop of increasing COVID-19 cases..One intervention application filed by the Jagannath Sanskruti Jana Jagrana Manch through Advocate Hitendra Nath Rath states that the Odisha Vikas Parishad did not cite the Orissa High Court order of June 9 whereby the Court had not stayed the Rath Yatra, instead leaving it to the state government to decide "whether or not to hold the rath yatra on June 23.”.Intervenors urge Supreme Court to modify order staying Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra; pleads to hold Yatra only with Servitors.The other intervention application seeking a partial modification of the June 18 order was filed by Aftab Hossen, a resident of Puri. He stated before the Court that the letter dated May 7 by the Centre addressed to the Chief Secretary of the government of Odisha indicates that the state government sought permission from the Centre. Accordingly, permission was also granted, subject to certain restrictions..The plea seeking a recall or modification of the Supreme Court order pointed out that the Deba Snana Purnima ritual was performed on June 5 with the help of 800 servitors.Before performing the ritual, all 800 servitors underwent COVID-19 tests and were reported to be negative. The 800 servitors are in isolation for more than one month as of today, the petitioners had submitted. .Among other intervenors, Janardhan Pattajoshi Mohapatra, who is the hereditary chief servitor of Lord Jagannatha of the Jagannatha Temple at Puri, Odisha, also moved the Apex Court stating that the Rath Yatra has an "unbroken tradition" and is an "essential practice of the Jagannatha temple".