Rabindranath Biswas
Diglipur, June 21: Ratha Yatra, also known as the chariot festival of Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Balabhadra, is being celebrated in Diglipur. The nine-day festival started yesterday.
The main function Mr. Gundicha started with Mahapuja of Lord Jagannath in the morning hours yesterday in Radha Govinda Mandir here.
Adorned in puja sarees and in nude foot, women devotees of Lord Jagannath went from Shree Shree Dakshina Kaali Mandir to Radha Govinda Mandir in the afternoon to invite and take the Lord to His aunt. On this day, Lord Jagannath and his two siblings, Balaram and Subhadra, visit His aunt on the chariot with long sacred ropes on two sides pulled by devotees.
Emotions ran high in Diglipur yesterday as devotees resumed pulling of the Chariot of Lord Jagannath, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Balabhadra from Radha Govinda Mandir at 04.30 pm and which halted at some distances as the devotees of other temples offered puja and archana prior to reaching Shree Shree Dakshina Kaali Mandir at around 08.00 pm. The same ritual will also be followed at the time of return of Ratha Yatra (Bahuda) on the Ninth day i.e. June 28th 2023.
Scores of devotees got the unique opportunity to have a glimpse of the deities atop the Chariot for long hours and get blessings. There was no drop in the energy and enthusiasm among the devotees who got a chance to witness the grand Rath Yatra. The Lord Jagannath’s Chariot colorfully decorated and the devotees pulling the Ratha, presented a spectacular show which portrayed the rich culture prevailing in the Islands especially in Diglipur.
Like previous years, the Rath Yatra witnessed a massive crowd of devotees who were seen dancing and chanting kirtanas in tune and rhythm with the music of trumpets etc.
Elaborate arrangements were made by the local administration for hassle-free completion of the pulling of the chariot and to give adequate chances to the devotees as well.
Rath Yatra is being organized jointly by Radha Govinda Mandir Committee and Shree Shree Dakshina Kaali Mandir Committee, Diglipur. During this nine-day festival, daily puja-archana and bhajan kirtana will be held and there will be Mahaprasad distribution for the devotees every day in the noon, Mr. Goutam Biswas, President & Mr. Bapi Saha, Secretary of Shree Shree Dakshina Kaali Mandir Committee, Diglipur, said.
