Puri Rath Yatra held with Covid protocols

In Odisha, the world famous Rath Yatra was held in the holy city of Puri with tight security arrangements and Covid protocols. This is the second consecutive year that the Yatra festival in Puri held without the general devotees due to the pandemic. Many dignitaries including the President, Vice President, the Prime minister and the Chief Minister of Odisha have greeted the people on the occasion. Greeting people on the occasion of the Rath Yatra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said - We bow to Lord Jagannath and pray that is blessings bring good health and prosperity in everyone's lives. 
Meanwhile, after the ritualistic ushering in of the deities on to their respective Raths,  the pulling of the Grand Chariots on the Grand Road in Puri has begun- about three hours ahead of the schedule. Sevayats or the servitors were pulling Taladhwja- the divine Rath of  Lord Shri Balabhadra followed by Darpadalana- the grand Rath of Devi Subhadra. As per tradition,  Nandighosa- the majestic Rath of Lord Sri Jagannath is pulled at the last.The Raths are heading towards Shri Gundicha Mandir where the deities will have their nine days' sojourn before returning to Sri Mandir-their divine abode.