Bhubaneswar: The famous ‘Rukuna Rath Yatra’ of Lord Lingaraj to be celebrated in the absence of the devotees this year in order to curb the rising Covid cases in the state. It is scheduled to be held on April 20.
A blue print for the annual Rukuna Rath Yatra has been prepared considering their demands to conduct the event without the devotees. The Palia servitors along with the police will pull the chariot. They will have to undergo Covid-19 test, informs BMC additional commissioner Laxmikant Sethi.
The Chariot Festival of Lord Lingaraja is celebrated in Odisha on the day of Ashokastami that takes place in the month of Chaitra.
This festival lasts for five-seven days. This festival is believed to be ‘Papa Binashakari Yatra’ which means festival that destroys all evil and sins.
Rukuna Rath is also called ‘Analeuta’ chariot as the chariot does not take any turn during the return journey. The direction of altars of the gods gets changed and the chariot is pulled from backside.
Ms Kalinga