Agencies

The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed this year's Rath Yatra, which is attended by lakhs of people from across the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee and the servitors of the 12th-century shrine urged the Odisha government late on Friday night to file a fresh application in the Supreme Court seeking modification of its order staying the annual chariot festival in Puri in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gajapati Maharaja of Puri Divyasingha Deb, who heads the managing committee, said he was optimistic about holding the Rath Yatra this year as the apex court was not apprised that the festival can also be organised in absence of devotees.

�The court should be apprised that earlier, Lord Jagannath�s Snan Purnima (bathing rituals) was also held smoothly without devotees on June 5. The court has not been appraised of this development,� he said.