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The chariot-building work, which is a major step to ring in the rath yatra or chariot festival in Ahmedabad district of Gujrat, will formally begin through rituals within the temple premises on the occasion of Akshyay Trittitiya observed on Sunday. The ratha yatra is scheduled to begin from June 23.
The construction of the chariots for the annual ratha yatra festival starts from Akshaya Tritiya, an auspicious day for giving the chariot festival the ritualistic push.
"We will only perform some rituals in the temple premises. The actual chariot building work cannot take place inside the temple. It will commence after May 4 only if the managing committee of the Jagannath Temple feels so after studying all the aspects of the lockdown situation," said Panchayati Raj and law minister Pratap Jena.
On Friday, the managing committee sought Dharmaguru Shankaryacharya's advice and it was decided to go on with the rituals on scheduled dates.
Another ritual, Chandan Yatra, which precedes ratha yatra and is an outdoor activity, was held on Saturday inside the temple.
During the Chandan Yatra or 'sandalwood voyage' of Lord Jagannath, images of the deity are taken to a pond, Narendra Pushkarini, three kilometres away from his temple abode.
Question on whether the rath yatra can be rolled out at all this year is doing the rounds. Though high-level meetings are being held, the managing committee is independent to take a call on this.
"To safeguard the lives of people of Ahmedabad and the people across the world, we will do whatever is required," said a senior-level bureaucrat.
Question on whether the rath yatra can be rolled out at all this year is doing the rounds. Though high-level meetings are being held, the managing committee is independent to take a call on this.
The chariot festival is an international event and several lakhs of devotees across the globe attend the festival. People come thronging Ahmedabad days in advance and crowd roads when the chariot hits the ground, going frenzied to touch the rope when it (rath) keeps rolling towards its destination.
Even after the lockdown is lifted, in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic, whether it can be allowed, without jeopardising the safety of people is the big challenge for administration and the temple authorities.
"If Lord Jagannath is taken out on roads, no one can stop people of Ahmedabad from crowding him," said another senior officer of .
However, the history is full of examples, when at least 18-20 instances when chariot festival could not be held, mostly because of external invasion between 800-1740 AD. In the late 16th century, invasion was responsible for Jagannath being taken out of the temple and shifted to different locations so many times.
"The Covid-19 pandemic is another such unnatural situation. It is a biological invasion and if the temple authorities feel that people will be safe if Lord Jagannath stays indoors, so be it," said another person, associated with decision-making.
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