Kolkata, Rath Yatra was celebrated with reverence to Lord Jagannath and joy across West Bengal on Sunday with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee participating in the festival and paying obeisance to the deity.
She pulled the ropes of Lord Jagannath's chariot at ISKCON Rath Yatra here and said, "We live together with all religions."
Chariots with idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra were dragged at various places in the state, with the largest gatherings being in Kolkata and at Mahesh in Hooghly district.
The Rath Yatra in Mahesh, the oldest in the state, was attended by devotees from various places.
Braving the rains, thousands of devotees gathered to participate in the festival in Kolkata, dancing and singing 'Jai Jagannath' along with monks of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).
"Jai Jagannath to all of you around the world, to all my brothers, sisters and ISKCON devotees on this auspicious day," the chief minister said.
Banerjee performed 'arati' with candles and offered prayers to the deities of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra before pulling the ropes of Lord Jagannath's chariot at the beginning of the ISKCON Rath Yatra along with devotees and monks.
"We live together with all religions. Jagannath Dev is very sacred for all of us," said Banerjee, who attends the ISKCON Rath Yatra every year.
The chief minister also said that a large number of people from the state participated in the Rath Yatra festival in Odisha's Puri as well as Hooghly's Mahesh and Kolkata and other places.
Rath Yatra is also synonymous with fairs in many places in Bengal, mainly in rural areas, where children and elders participate to make the most of the good things on offer, from various rides to snacks like jalebis and fried papad, some edibles traditional. on the occasion in the state.
Banerjee claimed that a temple, which is a replica of the Jagannath temple of Puri, in the coastal resort town of Digha is almost completed, and said it will be inaugurated after Durga Puja.
"Rath Yatra will be celebrated in Digha from next year," he said, addressing the devotees.
Women's dance performances were also held in front of the ISKCON Rath Yatra chariot in south Kolkata before it was pulled by monks and devotees on different streets of the metropolis.
The chariot will be parked at Maidan in the heart of the city for devotees to have darshan until the chariot returns after eight days.
She pulled the ropes of Lord Jagannath's chariot at ISKCON Rath Yatra here and said, "We live together with all religions."
Chariots with idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra were dragged at various places in the state, with the largest gatherings being in Kolkata and at Mahesh in Hooghly district.
The Rath Yatra in Mahesh, the oldest in the state, was attended by devotees from various places.
Braving the rains, thousands of devotees gathered to participate in the festival in Kolkata, dancing and singing 'Jai Jagannath' along with monks of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).
"Jai Jagannath to all of you around the world, to all my brothers, sisters and ISKCON devotees on this auspicious day," the chief minister said.
Banerjee performed 'arati' with candles and offered prayers to the deities of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra before pulling the ropes of Lord Jagannath's chariot at the beginning of the ISKCON Rath Yatra along with devotees and monks.
"We live together with all religions. Jagannath Dev is very sacred for all of us," said Banerjee, who attends the ISKCON Rath Yatra every year.
The chief minister also said that a large number of people from the state participated in the Rath Yatra festival in Odisha's Puri as well as Hooghly's Mahesh and Kolkata and other places.
Rath Yatra is also synonymous with fairs in many places in Bengal, mainly in rural areas, where children and elders participate to make the most of the good things on offer, from various rides to snacks like jalebis and fried papad, some edibles traditional. on the occasion in the state.
Banerjee claimed that a temple, which is a replica of the Jagannath temple of Puri, in the coastal resort town of Digha is almost completed, and said it will be inaugurated after Durga Puja.
"Rath Yatra will be celebrated in Digha from next year," he said, addressing the devotees.
Women's dance performances were also held in front of the ISKCON Rath Yatra chariot in south Kolkata before it was pulled by monks and devotees on different streets of the metropolis.
The chariot will be parked at Maidan in the heart of the city for devotees to have darshan until the chariot returns after eight days.
