Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 22: Thousands of people across Jammu and Kashmir and outside the State took privilege to participate in the Shri Jagannath Rath Yatra taken out here today.
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)
organized this “Shri Jagannath Rath Yatra” for the third consecutive year in the city of temples.
Thousands of devotees, dancing on the tune of song “Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare” and rhythm of drum beats, attracted everyone’s sight. A large number of women and children also participated in the yatra.
The “Rath Yatra” commenced from City Palace, Kachi Chawni at 12 noon today and after passing through Parade, Shallamar, Kanak Mandi, Rajinder Bazar, Shahidi Chowk, Raghunath Mandir, Indira Chowk, Gummat, Vinayak Bazar, Canal Road, Talab Tillo, Bohri reached Kashmir Hills Resort, Patta Borhi Road in the evening where Prasadam was served to everyone.
People from the roof top of their houses and on the road were seen waiting to have the glimpse of tableaux of Lord Jagannathji, his brother Baldev and sister Subhadra, moving on a beautifully decorated chariot.
The Rath Yatra festival of chariots originates in Puri, Orrisa and it is the oldest known festival and has been celebrated for over thousands of years.
“To give benefit to the people of the world, the founder Acharya of ISKCON, C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada introduced the Rath Yatra festival throughout the globe.
Vikram Malhotra, President Rath Yatra Committee, Jai Keshav Das, Organising President, Rajan Bhan, Welcome Committee President, Balbir Singh, general secretary Rath Yatra Committee, Gaur Hari Das alongwith executive members of the Jagannath Rath Yatra Committee including Surinder, Sanjeev, Krisnaravind Das, Ravi Kanta Das, Neeraj Bhartiya, Arun Anuj, Nadhi Dhar Das, Ehsas, Sandeep and Praveen were present on the occasion.
Yesterday, Maha-Aarti Utsav was organised at City Palace, Kacchi Chawni from 5 pm onwards in which there was offering of 56 Bhoga (Foodstuffs) as well as 108 Aarties (worship) to Lord Jagannath, Baldeva and Subhadara. Thereafter dinner Prasadam was served to all.
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