With Prayer for Happiness and Prosperity, President and PM Greets Nation on the Occasion of #RathYatra

New Delhi, July 4: “We pray to Lord Jagannath and seek his blessings For the good health, happiness and prosperity of everyone,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his best wishes on the special occasion of Rath Yatra. 

  

With enormous enthusiasm and devotion, Rath Yatra, one of the biggest festival in India is being celebrated in various parts of the country. Gujarat is celebrating 142nd annual Rath Yatra which began in Ahmedabad today morning. Union Home Minister Amit Shah along with his family members participated in the Mangala Arti today morning. Gujrat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani performed the Pahing ritual, the symbolic path cleaning by golden broom at Lord Jagannath temple before the start of the procession.

Jagannath Rath Yatra began today on the auspicious day of Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya (2nd day of Ashadha month) in Odisha. Lakhs of people will converge at Jagannath Temple in Puri to witness Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadara riding three giant wooden chariots which are pulled by devotees as they travel to Gudhicha Temple. 

Ratha Yatra is a festival peculiar to East Indian states which attracts over a million Hindu pilgrims from across the country each year. In Jagannath Rath Yatra, three deities are taken from the holy Jagannath temple in the chariots to the Gundicha Temple, where they stay for nine days. 

 

The most significant ritual associated is the Cheera Pahara. During the festival, the Gajapati King wears the outfit of a sweeper and sweeps all around the deities and chariots in the Cheera Pahara ritual. The Gajapati King cleanses the road before the chariots with a gold handled broom and sprinkles sandalwood water and powder with utmost devotion. As per the custom, although the Gajapati King has been considered the most exalted person in the Kalingan Kingdom, he still renders the menial service to Jagannath, there is no distinction between the powerful sovereign Gajapati King and the humblest devotee. 

 

The Rath Yatra festival has become a common sight in most major countries now-a-days. Rath Yatra has religious origins and meaning, but the events have a major community heritage, social sharing and cultural significance to the organizers and participants.