The construction work of the three chariots of Lord Jagannath and his sib¬lings will begin on auspicious Akshaya Tritiya on Sunday, even as uncertainty looms over the conduct of the chariot festival, the biggest event in the Odia religious calendar. The yatra this year is scheduled to be held on June 23.

Puri collector and deputy chief administrator of the 12th Century Shree Jagannath Temple, Balwant Singh on Saturday said: “As per the decision taken at a meeting in presence of Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati, Gajapati Dibya Singh Deb and others on Fri¬day evening, we would do all rituals of the Akshaya Tritiya, Chandan Yatra and construction of the chariots inside the temple premises. All the norms relating to the Covid19, including social distancing, would be followed strictly. ”

The symbolic chariot construction work usually done on the designated open space on the Grand Road (Bada Danda) in front of the temple.

On being asked whether the Rath Yatra would be held this year, Singh said: “Nation comes first then the religious institution. All these decisio¬ns of Rath Yatra would be taken only after May 3 when the restrictions will be lifted.”

On Friday evening, a meeting was held at Puri Swami Nischalananda Saraswati ashram. Scion of the erstwhile royal family of Puri Gajapati Dibya Singh Deb and chief ad¬ministrator Krishna Kumar and others attended the meet¬ing. It was decided that they would take a final call on the Rath Yatra only after May 3.

Earlier, Chhatisha Niyog, confederation of 36 sects of servitors suggested all person¬nel and servitors who take part every year for the Rath Yatra ceremonies to be identified, tested and kept in isolation well in advance according to the suggestion of the health department. They should be given identification card.

Even servitors and police personnel, nearly 1500, involved in pulling the three chariots be identified well in advance and tested for Covid and kept in isolation.

It also suggested that the servitors of the shrine must be issued strict instructions to neither allow any visitor to enter their houses nor allow any members of their family to remain on the streets during the period of the yatra.

“All the religious and social organisations in Puri other than the bare minimum people from identified mutt whose participation is inevitable may be cautioned against coming to the Puri Rath Yatra and strict instruc¬tions may be issued in this regard,” said Janardan Pattajoshi Mohapatra, senior member of Chhatisha Niyog.

It suggested to the government to instruct all the hotels, guest houses, mutts and other places offering public domicile in and around Puri not to take any bookings for rath yatra. “The prohibition may as well be imposed from the beginning of June month itself, to prevent any attempt at settling down in the town in advance,” the confederation said.

It also urged the government to announce that Rath Yatra be conducted with absolutely nil-participation from public and strict penal consequences will follow for any attempts at entering Puri during Rath Yatra. “All the inward and outward movements from Puri should be stopped,” it suggested.