Amid the crowds and chaos, a group of quiet heroes—the Nolia fishermen community, who have been serving as traditional lifeguards for generations—have been working tirelessly to keep lives safe.
It is believed that at a wish of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the Vaishnava devotees initiated the tradition of the Rath Yatra in Bengal.
Every year, the quiet town of Guptipara in Hooghly district transforms into a vibrant centre of devotion and festivity during Rath Yatra, a celebration deeply-rooted in Jagannath culture.
As the grand Rath Yatra began in Puri, the sky near Light House Square turned bright and colorful with a special kite-flying festival held on the beach.
Over a thousand devotees gathered in Slough, United Kingdom, to take part in the grand Rath Yatra celebrations, the High Commission of India said on Monday.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has greeted the people on Rath Yatra and expressed her joy over the first Rath Yatra at Digha Jagannath temple.
Digha had been put under heavy security cover, with an estimated 3,000 police personnel deployed to maintain law and order.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee will pull the rope of the rath of lord Jagannath between 2 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. at Digha tomorrow.
Several districts in West Bengal are expected to witness heavy rainfall and gusty winds over the next few days, with the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing weather warnings ahead of the annual Rath Yatra celebrations on Friday.
As the day of Rath Yatra arrives near, many of the city clubs are busy preparing for their Kunti Puja on the day, as the tradition goes.
