A special kirtan group from Moscow, Russia were centre of attraction as thousands of people belonging to various communities took part in the ‘rath yatra’ of Lord Jagannath at Bistupur. The rath yatra was organised at many different places across the steel city.
In Jamshedpur, Ratha Yatra Festival was organised at Beldih Naga Temple, which is the oldest in the city and has been celebrating it for the last 82 years, Sonari Geeta Bhawan; Jagannath temple, Khasmahal; Gandhi Ashram in Baradwari, Devasthan temple in Burmamines and the biggest Rath Yatra was organised by Iskcon at the Bistupur based Ram Mandir with.
Persons of all ages joined hands in pulling the chariot. International Society for Krishna Consciousness ( ISKON) organsied ‘Rath Yatra’ from Ram Mandiram in Bistupur to Sakchi Agrasen Bhawan. Bhajans, kirtans and kolatam dance were performed all along the procession.
A crowd of about 26,000 celebrated the procession where devotees tried to pull the chariots. More than 20 local organisations supported the Iskcon Rath Yatra festival this year.
A Maha Aarti was offered to the chariots while the chariots were on their way to the 'Mausi baadi'. This time an 'ulta Rath Yatra' on July 12 will also be celebrated by the Iskcon members. A blend of religious zeal and passion convert the streets and alleys of the city into a kaleidoscope of colors and gaiety. Festival began with a huge fanfare of drums and cymbals. They were accompanied by music and dancers.
“For us it is the most important event of the year. Every year the yatra is taken out with pomp and show. Moreover we also believe that the human body itself is the chariot of the almighty and our senses are the horses that pull the chariot. And the rath yatra symbolizes taking our body in the right direction,” said Bhagwan Das, priest of the mandir.