The sacred wheels of devotion rolled through Mayapur on Thursday as thousands of devotees gathered at ISKCON’s Rajapur temple to celebrate the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra with grandeur, colour and spiritual fervour.
Amid the resounding chants of “Hare Krishna”, beautifully decorated chariots carrying the three deities moved toward the Chandradaya Temple at Mayapur, creating a spectacular sight as devotees from across West Bengal pulled the ropes of the divine carts. The air was filled with devotional songs, traditional music, dance performances and the rhythmic beats of drums, cymbals and trumpets.
State Panchayat minister Dilip Ghosh, accompanied by his wife Rinku Ghosh, attended the festival and performed the traditional Chhera Pahanra ritual, symbolically sweeping the path of the chariots with a golden broom before the procession commenced.
Describing his visit to the ISKCON headquarters at Mayapur as a spiritually enriching experience, Mr Ghosh said, “ISKCON Mayapur is a place of inspiration for us. I have visited this place many times and stayed here earlier, but this is the first time I have come with my family after becoming a minister. Today, I participated in the yajna, worship of the cow and had the darshan of the Lord. It was a wonderful experience.”
He said the Rath Yatra carries a message of equality and inclusiveness. “Lord Jagannath comes out of the temple once a year so that devotees who cannot reach the temple can have his darshan. He comes with his brother and sister to meet everyone. There is no barrier of caste, creed or social status before Jagannath,” he said.
Explaining the festival’s significance, the minister said, “The Lord does not need to travel, but he comes out for his devotees. Rath Yatra is a reminder that religion is not limited to rituals. Human life becomes meaningful when we work for the welfare of others.”
Recalling the long tradition of Jagannath worship, Mr Ghosh referred to the centuries-old Rath Yatra at Mahesh in Hooghly and the famous festival of Odisha. “For generations, people have worshipped Lord Jagannath. The Rath Yatra is a tradition that connects people with faith and heritage,” he said.
He also highlighted Lord Jagannath’s unique form, whose large round eyes symbolise the eternal watch of the divine. “Those eyes remind us that our actions are always being observed. We should think about what we are doing for society and for the welfare of others,” he said.
The procession featured grand devotional performances as devotees offered flowers, fruits, sweets, payesh, khaja and other delicacies to the deities. The three chariots carrying Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladev and Goddess Subhadra proceeded from the ISKCON Jagannath Temple at Rajapur to the Chandradaya Temple amid tight security arrangements.
According to ISKCON spokesperson Ramesh Das, the Rath Yatra at Mayapur has a unique identity because it brings people from different communities and backgrounds together. “This festival breaks all social barriers. People come together only with devotion in their hearts to pull the chariot of Lord Jagannath,” he said.
The grand celebration once again turned Mayapur into a centre of devotion and harmony, where faith transcended social boundaries and thousands joined together in the timeless journey of Lord Jagannath.