HYDERABAD: Today, the world-famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath is being celebrated in Puri, Odisha. Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra, will leave their sanctum sanctorum in the Srikshetra and journey to the Gundicha Temple, their maternal aunt’s abode. The divine wooden idols will travel three kilometers on chariots amidst the chanting of devotees.
This year’s Rath Yatra holds a special significance. For the first time since 1971, the Navajauban Darshan (seeing the Lord in his youthful form), Netrotsava (festival of the eyes), and Rath Yatra are all occurring on the same day.
Due to the three major events happening today, it is unlikely that the chariots—Nandighosh of Jagannath, Taladhwaj of Balabhadra, and Darpadalan of Subhadra—will reach the Gundicha Temple by this evening. The chariots will be halted midway until the rituals are completed, and the devotees will resume pulling them on Monday.
For the first time, President Droupadi Murmu will participate in the festival, pulling Subhadra’s chariot alongside Governor Raghubar Das. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Ministers, and other dignitaries will also be in attendance.
An estimated 1.5 million devotees are expected to partake in the two-day festival. In light of this, a three-tier security arrangement has been implemented in Puri.
