Rath Yatra: Lord Jagannath’s chariot rolls on foreign land

Dubai/ Bahrain: Not only Puri's Bada Danda (Grand Road), Rath Yatra was also celebrated with much pomp and grandeur by the people of Odia community across the globe this year.

The Iskcon and Baharin Odia Samaj organised the annual festival at Manama in Bahrain. All the traditional rituals were followed and over one thousand devotees pulled the chariot of the Holy Trinity. Nepal’s Ambassador attended the festival and offered prayers to Lord Balabhadra, Jagannath and Devi Subhadra.

Later, Guru Gajendra Kumar Panda performed 'Dasavatar' of the Lord.

During the festival OTV's international correspondent, Arunita Praharaj spoke to the devotees, who shared their experiences during the Rath Yatra.

"I visited the city to witness Rath Yatra here for the first time. While all the arrangements were done systematically and ritualsduly followed, " said a devotee.

"We visit Srimandir in Puri for Lord Jagannath's 'darshan', but the Lord along with his siblings step out of the temple to give 'darsan' to the devotees during Rath Yatra. The tradition is kept alive by the Odia community across the globe," said another devotee.

Similarly, Odisha Samaj in United Arab Emirates celebrated the annual Rath Yatra festival at Sindhi Ceremonial Centre in Dubai. The chariot pulling of Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Lord Balabhadra and younger sister Devi Subhadra was carried out following the traditional 'Goti Pahandi' and 'Chera Pahanra' amidst playing of conchs and drums, blowing of trumpets and loud chants of ‘Hari Bol’, ‘Hare Ram Hare Krishna’ and ‘Jai Jagannath’.

The Odia Samaj has been celebrating the annual festival of Rath Yatra for last eight years.