For the first time in its history, the famous Puri Rath Yatra of 12-century Jagannath temple in Indian state of Odisha, saw around 1,500 priests pulling the three colourful chariots on Tuesday around noon. This came as devotees stayed away from the festival following a Supreme Court order earlier in the week. Importantly, all the priests who pulled the three chariots – Nandighosh, Taladhwaja and Darpadalana – had tested negative for COVID-19 on Monday.

Meanwhile, the three colourfully-decorated wooden chariots reached the Gundicha temple by around 5.30 pm, amid beating of cymbals and drums in praise of Lord Jagannath and his siblings- Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra.

– TIN Bureau (Picture courtesy: Twitter Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Odisa)