Bhubaneshwar (Odisha) [India], Just a day away from the annual Shri Jagannath Yatra, preparations are reaching their final stages to ensure a smooth and safe journey for the throngs of devotees expected to attend.
The grand Rath Yatra, which begins on Sunday, promises to attract thousands of worshipers, eager to take part in one of India's most revered and historic religious events.
According to Odisha Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena, 24-hour control rooms and medical kits for devotees will be arranged in every bus deployed for the Yatra.
"Our department has implemented many programs for Rath Yatra. There will be a control room operational 24 hours a day and six cranes will be parked at different locations. In case of vehicle breakdown, we have coordinated with various companies to provide breakdown services. In addition, each bus will have a medical kit,” he said in a statement to ANI.
The Rath Yatra, also known as the Chariot Festival, is believed to be as old as the Jagannath Temple in Puri.
The festival, celebrated with great fanfare from New Zealand to London and South Africa, encompasses the journey of the Holy Trinity to her maternal aunt, the Temple of Goddess Gundicha Devi, and culminates with the return journey after eight days.
Actually, the festival extends from the day of Akshaya Tritiya (in April) and culminates with the return of the Holy Trinity to the premises of Shree Mandir.
Meanwhile, Puri district magistrate Siddharth Shankar Swain on Wednesday said that on the day of the chariot pull, President Droupadi Murmu will also visit.
"As you know, this year's Rath Yatra is unique because all three important rituals take place on the same day. It is both a challenge and a matter of privilege. President Droupadi Murmu will visit Puri on the day of the chariot ride. All Concerned departments are ready and we have held several rounds of inter-departmental and coordination meetings," district magistrate Puri told ANI.
He further mentioned that a 225-bed super specialty hospital has been established at both ends of the grand Rath Yatra highway.
"The police deployment is massive. Around 28 parking spaces have been identified for people. Public facilities are also being planned at transit points so that visitors from different districts and states can have temporary resting places," he added. .
According to the Ministry of Railways, 315 special trains will run for devotees of Lord Jagannath during the occasion.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw earlier said, "For the auspicious occasion of Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra, railways are making special arrangements. To facilitate Maha Prabhu devotees from different states of Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh , West Bengal, and Jharkhand, at least 315 special trains will run covering all parts of Odisha.”
Meanwhile, preparations for the 53rd edition of the Rath Yatra festival at ISKCON Kolkata are in full swing.
The Yatra, which begins tomorrow, marks the 53rd edition of the iconic chariot festival, which celebrates the 150th birth anniversary of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada Maharaj.
In a conversation with ANI, ISKCON Vice President Radharam Das spoke about the chariot that will be used in the Yatra.
"After Puri, Kolkata Rath Yatra is the largest Rath Yatra. More than 20 lakh people from all over the world participate in the 9-day festival. All the three chariots are very special and their design is also completely different. The chariot Baldev ji “He is the tallest and his wheel is made of solid iron. For the last 46 years, that wheel has been spinning for Baldev ji, but it was damaged, so this time we have installed new wheels,” he said.
The festival chariots, featuring Jagannath and Baladev, are 46 years old and the latter stands at a height of 38 feet. The broken cart wheel weighs 250 kg and has a diameter of 6 feet.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to inaugurate the Rath Yatra at the ISKCON temple located at 3C Albert Road near Minto Park.
The grand Rath Yatra, which begins on Sunday, promises to attract thousands of worshipers, eager to take part in one of India's most revered and historic religious events.
According to Odisha Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena, 24-hour control rooms and medical kits for devotees will be arranged in every bus deployed for the Yatra.
"Our department has implemented many programs for Rath Yatra. There will be a control room operational 24 hours a day and six cranes will be parked at different locations. In case of vehicle breakdown, we have coordinated with various companies to provide breakdown services. In addition, each bus will have a medical kit,” he said in a statement to ANI.
The Rath Yatra, also known as the Chariot Festival, is believed to be as old as the Jagannath Temple in Puri.
The festival, celebrated with great fanfare from New Zealand to London and South Africa, encompasses the journey of the Holy Trinity to her maternal aunt, the Temple of Goddess Gundicha Devi, and culminates with the return journey after eight days.
Actually, the festival extends from the day of Akshaya Tritiya (in April) and culminates with the return of the Holy Trinity to the premises of Shree Mandir.
Meanwhile, Puri district magistrate Siddharth Shankar Swain on Wednesday said that on the day of the chariot pull, President Droupadi Murmu will also visit.
"As you know, this year's Rath Yatra is unique because all three important rituals take place on the same day. It is both a challenge and a matter of privilege. President Droupadi Murmu will visit Puri on the day of the chariot ride. All Concerned departments are ready and we have held several rounds of inter-departmental and coordination meetings," district magistrate Puri told ANI.
He further mentioned that a 225-bed super specialty hospital has been established at both ends of the grand Rath Yatra highway.
"The police deployment is massive. Around 28 parking spaces have been identified for people. Public facilities are also being planned at transit points so that visitors from different districts and states can have temporary resting places," he added. .
According to the Ministry of Railways, 315 special trains will run for devotees of Lord Jagannath during the occasion.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw earlier said, "For the auspicious occasion of Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra, railways are making special arrangements. To facilitate Maha Prabhu devotees from different states of Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh , West Bengal, and Jharkhand, at least 315 special trains will run covering all parts of Odisha.”
Meanwhile, preparations for the 53rd edition of the Rath Yatra festival at ISKCON Kolkata are in full swing.
The Yatra, which begins tomorrow, marks the 53rd edition of the iconic chariot festival, which celebrates the 150th birth anniversary of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Prabhupada Maharaj.
In a conversation with ANI, ISKCON Vice President Radharam Das spoke about the chariot that will be used in the Yatra.
"After Puri, Kolkata Rath Yatra is the largest Rath Yatra. More than 20 lakh people from all over the world participate in the 9-day festival. All the three chariots are very special and their design is also completely different. The chariot Baldev ji “He is the tallest and his wheel is made of solid iron. For the last 46 years, that wheel has been spinning for Baldev ji, but it was damaged, so this time we have installed new wheels,” he said.
The festival chariots, featuring Jagannath and Baladev, are 46 years old and the latter stands at a height of 38 feet. The broken cart wheel weighs 250 kg and has a diameter of 6 feet.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to inaugurate the Rath Yatra at the ISKCON temple located at 3C Albert Road near Minto Park.
