Amid covid surge, deployment of police force and prohibitory orders, the famous Chandan Yatra, the 21 day summer sports of the deities of Sri Jagannath temple will be observed in a traditional manner involving a minimum number of servitors.
About ten platoons of police personnel would be deployed along the route to prevent devotees storming the Chandan procession while section 144 CrPC would be clamped around the Chandan tank for 21 days to restrict devotees gatherings to view the fete.
The Chhatisha nijog the Confederation of all associations of Srimandir servitors on Tuesday endorsed the proposal to observe Chandan Yatra and also the construction of three chariots on Akshyay Tritiya day on May 15.
Jagannath temple sources said it was resolved that only 50 to 65 servitors would participate in the Bahar chandan Yatra. Last year the Chandan yatra was observed inside the temple in view of covid surge which was in peak.
The servitors including palanquin bearers, Mahajan servitors, priests and boat operators participating in the 21 day fete would have to undergo RT-PCR test and only those having negative reports would be allowed.
