Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said Lord Jagannath gives people many deep human messages through his journey during the world-famous Rath Yatra, which is going to be held on July 1.
Addressing the 90th episode of his monthly radio address 'Mann Ki Baat ', the Prime Minister said, "You must have seen that this time a large number of devotees participated in the Chardham Yatra. In our country, from time to time. different Dev-yatras also take place. Dev Yatras... that is, in which not only the devotees but also our Gods go on a journey. In just a few days from now on the 1st of July, the famous journey of Lord Jagannath is going to commence."
He continued, "All of us are familiar with the Puri yatra in Odisha. People make efforts to ensure that on this occasion they get the good fortune of going to Puri. In other states too, Jagannath Yatras are taken out with great gaiety and fervour. Bhagwan Jagannath Yatra begins on Dwitiya, the second day of the month of Ashadha. In our texts 'Ashadhasya Dwitiya divase... Rath Yatra', this is how the description is found in Sanskrit shlokas."
"In Ahmedabad, Gujarat too, every year Rath Yatra begins from Ashadh Dwitiya. I was in Gujarat, so I also used to get the privilege of serving in this Yatra every year... Be it Ahmedabad or Puri, Lord Jagannath gives us many deep human messages through this journey," he said.
He further said, Bhagwan Jagannath s the lord of the world, but the poor and downtrodden have a special participation in his journey. "God also walks along with every section and person of the society. Similarly, in all the journeys that take place in our country, there is no such distinction between poor and rich, high and low. Rising above all discrimination, the journey itself is paramount," he added.