The historic Ratha Yatra of Lord Jagannath, which commenced Monday, will be telecast by COLORS Odia. People can watch the festivities, being held under COVID protocols, from the safety of their homes.

As per the company’s press release, viewers shouldn’t be disheartened with the restrictions or the fact that they would be allowed to touch the deity in puri badadanda because COLORS Odia brings the same experience at home.

The various rituals will be aired from July 12, including Ratha Yatra special, Bahuda Jatra on  July 20, Suna Besha on July 21 and Niladri Bije on July 23.

For the unversed, Ratha Yatra is an important Hindu festival organized every year at the famous Jagannatha temple in Puri, Odisha. It is one of the oldest ratha yatras in the world. On this day, the idols of Lord Jagannath and his siblings (Goddess Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra) are decorated and brought to cover a 3-km-long journey (from Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple) in chariots drawn by over hundreds of devotees every year.

It is believed that anyone who pulls the rope linked to the chariots of the deities and helps others also in doing so or merely touches the rope or chariots, gets the merit of several penances.

This would be the second year in a row that the channel would be airing Ratha Yatra for devotees.