Ulto Rath Yatra concludes with grand celebrations
The nine-day Rath Yatra festival of Lord Jagannath, one of the most significant religious festivals of the Hindu community, concluded on Friday with the traditional pulling of ropes during the Ulto Rath Yatra.
The festival began on July 16, and the Ulto Rath marks the grand return journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra to their main temple after their nine-day stay at the Gundicha Temple.
According to Hindu beliefs, the return journey symbolises the soul’s return to its divine source after experiencing the material world.
Various religious organisations and temples arranged special programmes to mark the occasion. The day’s events included Harinam Sankirtan (devotional songs), Agnihotri Joggo for peace and prosperity, distribution of Mahaprasad, religious discussions, recitations from the Bhagabata Purana and Shrimad Bhagabata Gita, and cultural performances.
In the capital, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) organised a grand procession in the afternoon to mark the Ulto Rath Yatra.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon attended a discussion as the chief guest at the premises of Dhakeshwari National Temple, with ISKCON Bangladesh General Secretary Bhaktimoy Nitai Swami in the chair.
Later, Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam inaugurated the grand procession featuring three decorated chariots carrying the idols of Lord Jagannath, Subhadra and Balarama.
The procession passed through Palashi Moor, Jagannath Hall, Central Shaheed Minar, Doel Chattar, High Court, Jatiya Press Club, Purana Paltan, Motijheel Shapla Chattar, Ittefaq Mor, Tikatuli, Rajdhani Super Market and Joy Kali Temple before ending at the Swamibagh ISKCON Temple.
According to Hindu tradition, Rath Yatra is observed every year on the second day (Dwitiya Tithi) of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of the lunar month of Ashar.
The tradition originated at the Jagannath Temple in Puri, India, and is observed as a sacred festival by Hindu communities in Bangladesh.
The Jashomadhab Dev Rath Yatra in Dhamrai, Dhaka is considered one of the country’s oldest celebrations, while major festivities were also held in Chattogram, Sylhet and Dhaka.
Return Rath Yatra programmes were also organised at Jagannath Jiu Thakur Temple in Tantibazar, Ram-Sita Temple on Joy Kali Road, temples under the Shankharibazar Committee, and numerous other temples across Bangladesh.
