Devotees take out Rath Yatra with pomp and show

 

 

 

A grand Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath Swami was taken out on Friday in Sanskardhani, as thousands of devotees participated in the age-old spiritual procession filled with devotion, tradition and festive fervour. Riding in ornately decorated chariots, Lord Jagannath, along with his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Devi Subhadra, embarked on the annual journey to shower blessings upon devotees. Amidst tunes of drums, band performances, devotional songs and beautifully crafted tableaux, devotees thronged the streets to catch a glimpse of the Lord.

 

With utmost reverence, they pulled the towering wooden chariots with their own hands, an act of great spiritual merit or punya. The Rath Yatra route was filled devotional fervour as people offered puja, performed aarti and prayed at various sites along the route. A traditional offering of bhog prasad, especially popular bhata prasad (sacred rice offering) was distributed and consumed by devotees. Sanskardhani upholds the tradition of Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra for centuries. Numerous temples and communities including Sahu Samaj, Chourasia Samaj, Bengali Samaj, Jagdish Mandir (Hanumantal), Vitthal Raghurai Mandir and

 

ITI Mandir among others took out huge processions inspired by the grand Puri Rath Yatra. A highlight of the ceremony was the golden broom ritual, alike the sacred tradition of Puri’s Gundicha Yatra, where saints ceremonially sweep the path ahead of the chariots. This symbolic act, signifying cleanliness and devotion was conducted by seers at Bada Fuhara. In a remarkable display of spiritual unity, a Mahaaarti of all the chariots was performed simultaneously. The special event was held under the guidance of prominent seers including Jagadguru Swami Narasimha Devacharya, Dandi Swami Pyarenand Maharaj, Mahamandaleshwar Akhileshwaranand Giri, Swami Girishanand, Radhe Chaitanya Maharaj, Pujya Gyaneshwari Didi and several others.

 

The ceremony included sweeping the road with a gold-plated broom, followed by Vedic chants and elaborate worship. As per sacred scriptures, Lord Jagannath along with Balabhadra and Subhadra emerges for public darshan after a 15-day period of rest and ritual cleansing, known as ‘Anavasara’. Following the ceremonial awakening, deities are bathed with neem-infused holy water, anointed with medicinal oils, dressed in fresh attire and beautifully adorned. After the morning prayers and aarti, divine siblings were placed on the chariot, initiating the sacred procession. Symbolically, the Lord travels to visit his aunt’s home (Mausi Bari), offering blessings to all.

 

The tradition, rich in mythological depth, signifies Lord Jagannath’s compassion for humanity, where he steps out of his temple to meet common people. Religious sages said that the Rath Yatra is not just a religious event, it is a living tradition that represents the cycle of faith, humility, service and celebration of divine presence on Earth. It reaffirms the eternal belief that God does not remain confined within temples, but walks among his devotees, sharing in their joys and burdens.