Tag: Rath Yatra

The three gigantic chariots of Mahaprabhu Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra are decked up and ready outside Srimandir for their annual sojourn to Gundicha temple on Friday (July 1).

Earlier, the sister duo had presented Sambalpuri folk songs, ‘Dalkhai Re’ and ‘Rangabati’. The sister duo dressed in Sambalpur sarees accessorized with Odissi dance ornaments and tribal headgears, and strummed their ukulele to the folk songs.

A day before the sibling deities undertake their sojourn to their aunt’s place, the chariots were pulled to Singhadhar of Puri Jagannath temple after the Agyan Mala bije rituals. The mega event is being held with public participation after a two-year pandemic hiatus.

Ahead of Rath Yatra 2022 all the preparations are in full swing. The traffic police and Red Cross conducted a green corridor mock drill on the Grand Road in Puri on Tuesday. The Red Cross and traffic police officials conducted the mock drill by forming human chain and clearing way for movement of ambulance during emergency.

Health Director, Bijay Mohapatra informed that 69 first-aid centers have been set up in the pilgrim town. Various hospitals in Puri are also equipped with additional 287 beds, and 26 AC beds keeping in view the humid conditions. A total of 145 doctors, 7 food safety officers, 40 pharmacists, 30 nursing officers and 45 health officers will also be deployed.

The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has taken necessary steps to facilitate pilgrims with reserved class accommodation, for the trains leaving from its jurisdiction towards Puri and vice-versa, apart from the special trains from neighboring States.

Around 10 lakh people are expected to gather for the festival in the temple town from across the country, and some foreign nations, Director of Health Service Bijay Mohapatra said.

 “I would like to request devotees to follow the traffic rules while coming to the holy city. We have also designated adequate number of parking spaces for them,” DGP Sunil Bansal informed.  

The carpenters engaged in chariot construction do not have any formal training. They only have knowledge and techniques that have been trickled down from their forefathers, Mohanty pointed out.

‘Banakalagi' ritual is a secret ritual and the Dutta Mohapatra servitors perform it.

PM Modi said, Bhagwan Jagannath s the lord of the world, but the poor and downtrodden have a special participation in his journey.

Recently, Lord Baladevjew’s chariot (72-ft) in Keonjhar district was adjudged as the tallest Rath Yatra chariot by the Guinness Book of World Records.

The State government and Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) had taken up Jagannath Bana Prakalpa, a special afforestation programme for ensuring sustained timber supply, in 2001.

Lord Jagannath's juggernaut is taking shape! Here are a few glimpses from Puri where chariot construction for the annual car festival is underway in full swing.

The Chief Minister also expressed gratitude towards the servitors who assisted the administration and pulled the chariots during the Covid-19 pandemic situation.