The city prepares itself for the famous wooden chariots of lord Jagannath as the annual festival starts on July 10.
Maintaining the more than seven decade rich tradition, the Rath Yatra Committee of Jugsalai is set to organise a grand ‘Rath Yatra’ during which the lord Jagannath is worshipped with his elder brother Bala-Rama and his sister Subhadra.
Artisans from Odisha are busy giving final touches to the wooden chariots. “We are happy being a part of the auspicious occasion for more than two decades now. Though it is a small chariot but still our devotion and passion is no less,” said Soumitra Mahapatra, a carpenter.
He went on to add that for generations they have been preparing the ‘Rath’ for the grand occasion. Devotees appreciate the creative work and this is the best reward they receive.
Moreover, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) and other social organisations in the city have come together to celebrate the day with pomp and gaiety and much more religious fervour on the seventh year.
The Jagannath Rath Yatra on July 10 will start from the Sakchi Jain Bhavan and would culminate at the same point. The Nabajauban darshan or visit to lord Jagannath will start tomorrow at the Jain Bhavan.
ISKCON has joined hands with other religious organisations like Shyam Bhakt Mandal, and Central Durga Puja Peace Committee to make the celebration a grand success. More than 2,000 people are expected to take part in the festival that day.
The festival is celebrated by pulling out large wooden wheel chariots of lord Jagannath, along with sister Subhadra and brother Balram from the temple through the city’s decorated streets for hours
“The event is inspired from the Puri Jagannath Yatra, our forefathers started it more than seven decades ago though several other committees too take out yatras but we have maintained the tradition with full devotion,” noted Rajkumar Saha, a member of Rath Yatra Committee at Jugsalai.
It may be mentioned that similar on lines of Rath Yatra at Puri, the Rath Yatra Committee at Jugsalai has been taking out the march from last 73 years. Such is the popularity of Yatra that a place in Jugsalai has been named ‘Rath Gali’ after it.
People in the city also look forward to the Rath Yatra at the Naga temple in Beldih Golf course. The chariot from the temple leaves for Mausi Bari in the nearby Tulsi Mandir for a week. A fair is also the part of the celebration.