Puri, July 11: Shri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) formally invited Jagadguru Sankaracharya of Shri Govardhan Mutt, Puri for Ratha Yatra-2021 on Saturday.

A team of servitors and officials led by the Chief Administrator of SJTA, Dr. Krishan Kumar visited the Gobardhan Mutt in the afternoon and extended an invitation to Swami Nischalananda Saraswati.

Sources said the team offered the sacred Nirmalya, Mahaprasad, tulsi leaves, betel nuts, fruits, and flowers in a specified dish to the seer and benignly invited for the Ratha Yatra which will be celebrated on Monday.

As per the Sri Jagannath cult, the Jagadguru and six of his core disciples are allowed to climb onto the chariots during Ratha Yatra and Bahuda Yatra where the sheer offers his prayer to the trinity.