Devotees take out Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in city

Prayagraj: Under the aegis of Shri Jagannath Swami Rath Yatra Committee Kydganj, the grand Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath Swami Ji was taken out with full splendour in the city on Sunday. The Rath Yatra started from Shri Jagannath Temple Triveni Marg Kydganj and in the Rath Yatra, along with the Lord Jagannath’s NandiGhosh Rath, chariots of Garuda Dev, Badri Vishal, Lord Ram, Lord Dwarkadhish were also taken out. Along with the chariot, tableaus of Radha Krishna, Narsingh Avatar, Damodar Leela were also taken out. General secretary of the committee, Dr. Mahendra Tiwari, said that thousands of devotees kept pulling the chariot’s rope throughout the yatra. Devotees performed the Lord Jagannath’ aarti at various places. Along with this, people served the Lord’s Prasad on the way. In Shringverpur, the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath was rolled out at Shringverpur block where a large number of devotees flocked the procession route to pay obeisance to the deities. The chariot of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balbhadra and his sister Subhadra was pulled by the devotees as per the age-old tradition. During the Rath Yatra, hundreds of devotees immersed in the colours of devotion and danced with the sound of conch shells and musical instruments. The grand Rath Yatra of Jagannath Swami was organized under the aegis of Shri Tulsi Sahitya Prachar Samiti. Jagannath Swami’s Rathyatra was taken out from Vanvasi Shriram Vishram Ashram, Shringverpur dham to Shriram Sandhya Math Ashram located at Shriramghat. As per Vedic rituals, the yatra began after performing Naugraha, Kalash Puja and worshiping Lord Ram, Goddess Janaki, and Lord Lakshman as per the time of Nakshatra Mandals. Shringverpur Dham Peethadheeshwar Mahant Ramprasad Das Shastri Maharaj performed the aarti of Swami Jagannath, brother Baldau and sister Subhadra and placed their idols in the palace in the form of a chariot.After lighting the lamp, the rath yatra left for the Dham of aunt Gundicha, where Lord Jagannath rests after reaching his aunt’s house. Before reaching Shri Ram Sandhya Math Ashram Shriram Ghat, Jagannath Swami was welcomed with flower garlands. Meanwhile, the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath Ji was also taken out with full pomp and show by Shri Jagannath Ji Mahotsav Samiti Trust. Former minister Gagan Das Gupta performed the worship of Mahaprabhu Jagannath Swami as per the Shodashopachar rituals of Sanatan Dharma. After that, the Lord Jagannath was seated on the Nandighosh chariot along with brother Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra and was anointed with lotus flower, Tulsi leaf, Ganga water, peacock feather, conch, panch fruits, panch dry fruits and Maha Aarti of 101 lamps Jyoti Mala was performed. The Rath Yatra was inaugurated by Allahabad MP Ujjwal Raman Singh, mayor Ganesh Kesarwani, Mahamandaleshwar Kaushalya Nand Giri of Kinnar Akhara, and others. Convener Rath Yatra co-ordinator Rajesh Kesarwani said that Lord Ganesha, Varun Dev, Hanuman Ji Maharaj, Lord Narsingh and five Pandavas were there to welcome the Rath Yatra. Apart from this, Indra Dev on Airavat elephant, Krishna Balram Krishna Sudama, tableau of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Ram Darbar along with artists from different states were also in the Rath Yatra. The Rath Yatra started from Arya Bhawan Zero Road and took rest at the Dham of Prayageshwar Nath Lord Jagannath Ji located in Kashi Rajnagar via its fixed route Agrasen Chauraha, Chameli Bai Dharamshala Jansen Ganj, Ghantaghar Loknath Chauraha, Bahadurganj Ram Bhawan Mutthiganj, Hatia Police Booth, Baas Mandi, Balua Ghat, Katghar in Kashi Rajnagar. Rath Yatra devotees performed aarti and welcomed the Rath Yatra at various places on the route. In theRath Yatra, Lord Jagannath Ji, Goddess Subhadra and brother Balabhadra, dressed in gemstones and adorned with grand decorations and the huge Nandi Ghosh chariot of Lord Jagannath was the centre of attraction.