Supreme Court prohibits Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra, know the reason

The court has stopped the procession of Lord Jagannath due to Coronavirus infection. In the petition seeking a ban on the rath yatra, it has been said on behalf of the petitioner that one million people gather in this rath yatra.


The Supreme Court has banned the historic annual Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra that is going to be held on June 23 due to the coronavirus epidemic. The court has stopped the procession of Lord Jagannath due to Coronavirus infection. All religious programs and rituals have to be postponed due to the grunt of this deadly virus.

The bench of Supreme Court Chief Justice SA Bobde, Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, and Justice AS Bopanna, while hearing the case on 18 June 2020, said that Rath Yatra cannot be allowed this year given public interest and safety of people.

What did the Supreme Court say?

On 18 June 2020, the Supreme Court, while hearing a petition in this regard, said that God will never forgive them if they give permission for this. Chief Justice of India SA Bobde said that this is a serious matter and the court cannot allow it.

In the petition seeking a ban on the rath yatra, it has been said on behalf of the petitioner that one million people gather in this rath yatra. On this, Chief Justice of India Bobde said that if there are even ten thousand then it is a serious matter.

On hearing this petition, the court said that such meetings cannot take place at the time of the epidemic. In the interest of public health and the safety of citizens, Rath Yatra cannot be allowed this year. We pass this order in the interest of the public safety of citizens so that people do not gather in danger.

Rath Yatra will not happen after 284 years

This year, the Rath Yatra was to begin from June 23, 2020, but it will not be organized after the order of the Supreme Court. This is the first time in nearly 3 centuries that this annual Rath Yatra will not be organized. According to reports, the last time the Rath Yatra could not take place between 1733 and 1735 was 284 years ago, because at that time Taki Khan attacked the holy temple and the idols had to be kept somewhere else.

Ban on all types of religious events

In Odisha, the state government has banned all religious programs till 30 June 2020. Odisha cabinet has also decided to follow the order of the Supreme Court on Rath Yatra. Odisha's government will not organize Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra in Puri given the Kovid-19 epidemic. This decision was taken in the emergency meeting of the state cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik following the order of the Supreme Court.

About Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra

The Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra was scheduled to begin on June 23 and it was expected that around 10 to 12 lakh people would come. This rath yatra program lasts for several days. Jagannath ji's rath yatra begins in Jagannathpuri on Ashada Shukla Dwitiya. This rath yatra is also the main festival of Puri. To participate in it, thousands of children, thousands of children, old, young, women come from the remote provinces of the country for its philosophy benefits.

For the Puri Rath Yatra, three different chariots are built for Balarama, Shri Krishna, and Goddess Subhadra. At the forefront of the rath yatra is the chariot of Balramji, followed by the chariot of Goddess Subhadra in the middle and the chariot of Lord Jagannath Sri Krishna at the back. It is identified by their color and height.

The Nandigosh Ratha of Lord Jagannath is 45.6 feet high, the Taladhwaja chariot of Balramji is 45 feet high and the Darpadalan chariot of Goddess Subhadra is 44.6 feet high. The rath yatra starts from Jagannath temple and passing through Puri city, these chariots reach Gundicha temple. Here Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra rest for seven days.

Prasad of Jagannath Ji is considered as Mahaprasad. These days, offerings of coconut, lai, gajamung, and malpu are available. Then, after the completion of the day, Lord Jagannath goes back to his house, that is, the Jagannath temple.