Jagannath Rath rolled out in Kharghar

Chanting of slokas, singing of bhajans and clanking of cymbals filled the air as the Jagannath Rath Yatra began its procession from Sector 3 in Kharghar on Monday.

The annual festival in Puri, Orissa, sees thousands of devotees pulling the three-storey high chariot (rath) of Lord Jagannath.

Navi Mumbai devotees too marked the festival by pulling the rath. Around 500 devotees danced raising their hands as the rath was pulled on the streets after

rituals.

The rath carrying the deities — Jagannath, his brother Balbhadra and sister Subhadra — began its journey at around 3 pm. The chariot made its way through the Kharghar and concluded its journey before sunset at Mausima temple in Shiv Temple in Sector 12 of Kharghar. A mahaprasad was organised after the rath yatra.

“The chariot has been modelled as the one made in Puri,” said Suresh Das, a devotee and a resident of Navi Mumbai.

The rath yatra was organised by Swami Avdheshanand Welfare Association (SAWA) and Jagannath Premi, an association of Navi Mumbai residents. This is the second year that the association is organising the Jagannath yatra. They will hold it for at least 12 years, as is customary.

“It is believed that whoever participates in the rath yatra, offers aarti and pulls the rath will gain unlimited devotion and all his sins will be wiped out,” said PK Panda, the priest who led the yatra. “Today is an auspicious day to start good work.”

“Today, the Lord has come out to give darshan to people of all communities,” said Ram Prasad Muduli, trustee if SAWA.

The deities who have gone to visit their aunt will return on July 24.

“The Bahuda yatra will be on July 24 from 10 am when the deity will return to its original resting place,” said Das.