GUWAHATI: The annual Jagannath Rath Yatra, will commence tomorrow, July 16, with grand celebrations planned across the country. Millions of devotees are expected to take part in the chariot festival, with major events scheduled in Guwahati and Puri, Odisha.
ALSO READ: Assam Flood Situation Deteriorates as Over 37,000 Affected, Death Toll Climbs to 4
In Guwahati, the Hare Krishna Movement (HKM) Guwahati will organise the 14th Sri Jagannath Rath Yatra Mahotsav with a grand eight-kilometre procession from the Hare Krishna Mandir in North Guwahati to the historic Doul Govinda Mandir.
Addressing a press conference, the Vice President of Hare Krishna Movement Guwahati, said the procession will begin at 3 pm and is expected to witness the participation of thousands of devotees. The organisers are also expecting Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, legislators and other dignitaries to attend the event.
Describing the Rath Yatra as "a festival of divine mercy, universal brotherhood and spiritual joy," Vijay Pandit Dasa invited people from all walks of life to join the celebrations by pulling the sacred chariot, chanting the holy names and receiving the blessings of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra. Hundreds of volunteers have been deployed to ensure the smooth and orderly conduct of the festival.
Meanwhile, in Puri, the world-famous Jagannath Rath Yatra will see Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra taken out of the 12th-century Jagannath Temple in three massive wooden chariots and ceremonially pulled to the Gundicha Temple by thousands of devotees.
One of the unique traditions of the festival is that the towering chariots are constructed afresh every year using specially selected timber and traditional craftsmanship. The annual procession symbolises the divine journey of the deities and offers devotees a rare opportunity to seek their blessings outside the temple.
With lakhs of pilgrims expected to gather in Puri, the Odisha administration has put in place extensive security and crowd-management measures. Around 200 Executive Magistrates have been deployed across the city to ensure the smooth and safe conduct of the festival.