Man held for climbing chariot during Ratha Yatra

Puri: A man was arrested for allegedly climbing one of the three chariots during Lord Jagannath's annual car festival here, police said on Monday.

The accused, identified as Deepesh Shah (51), hails from Gujarat. After screening of CCTV footage, he was arrested yesterday for allegedly climbing the chariot of Lord Balabhadra in the early hours of July 8.

The police later stopped him while he was trying to climb 'Nandighosa', Lord Jagannath's chariot.

A case has been registered against Shah under IPC Section 188 IPC (Disobedience to order promulgated by public servant) and a section of Shri Jagannath Temple Act, police said.

As per a directive of Orissa High Court, devotees are barred from moving onto the chariots of the presiding deities of the 12th century shrine during nine-day car festival.

After the Ratha Yatra was held on July 6, the three chariots are now parked in front of Gundicha Temple. The chariots are scheduled to take the deities back to their temple during the return car festival on July 14.

A temple servitor had reportedly allowed his daughter to climb Lord Jagannath's chariot on Friday but no action has been taken so far.