The two oldest Rath Yatra pujas of the district - Hari Mandir of Hirapur (started in 1925) and Panchdev Mandir of Jharia (started in 1932) - will be performed within the temple campus symbolically in full observance of Covid protocols.

The puja committees of the respective temples have already started preparations with a fresh coat of painting to the chariot as well as the temple.

Talking to The Telegraph Online on Sunday, Partho Sengupta, a senior member of Hirapur Harimandir management committee said, “We have decided not to take out the procession this year like last year as per the government order and even if the government allows taking out of the procession we will not take out the same in order to ensure safety for one and all.”

“Puja, however will be performed in temple campus itself as per the over 96 years of tradition beginning from 1925 as the chariot will be moved from one corner of the temple to other corner unlike the procession which used to taken out from the temple to different parts of the town,” said Sengupta and added after the symbolic procession, the chariot will be placed near the main gate for darshan.

“Nobody, however, will be allowed inside the temple during the evening on July 12 and our volunteers will be deputed to ensure social distancing norms,” said Sengupta.

Sengupta said devotees will be allowed into the temple one at a time when the morning rush will be less.

Vishnu Tripathi, convenor of Rath Yatra Sanchalan Samiti of Jharia said, “We have also decided not to take out the procession this year in view of pandemic but preparation for the traditional puja which will held has already been launched since yesterday itself with the repair of the seepage problem in the Panchdev Temple.”

“After completion of temple renovation and painting we will also carry out chariot refurbishment and like Hari Mandir we will also move the chariot from one place (garbhgrih) to another place, mausibari around 10 meters away within the temple campus,” said Tripathi.

“As the sentiments of the people of Jharia are attached with the Rath Yatra which began in 1932, we will be holding the puja and our volunteers will ensure strict observance of Covid protocols and social distancing norms,” said Tripathi.

The Rath Yatra of Panchdev Mandir was first taken out by a Jharia based trader, Ramkhelawan Sao in 1932 with the permission of then Jharia king, Shiva Prasad Singh. According to myths, Sao was childless till the age of 54 and after a trip to Puri Lord Jagannth came in his dream and asked him to organise Rath Yatra in Jharia. He organised Rath Yatra in 1932 obeying the god orders and was blessed with a child in 1933. Since then Rath Yatra is taken out every year by his descendents with the help of other residents of Jharia.