Chandigarh (Face2News)

Utkal Sanskrutik Sangh, an association of Jagannath Mandir sector 31, took out Jagannath Rath yatra from the mandir on Friday. Hundreds of devotees, including men, women and children, participated in the Rath Yatra charged with enthusiasm and their immovable faith.The yatra that started at 1 pm from mandir at sector 31 took a complete tour of the city.

After taking round of Sector 32, 29, 30, 20, 21,34, 44, 45 and 47, the yatra then concluded at mandir. This year, Digamber Behra, former DEAN of PGIMER, was chief guest. The Utkal Sanskrutik Sangh invited some eminent persons of Chandigarh asthe guests on the eve of celebration of Rath Yatra. The guests worshiped theLord on the Rath.

The most awaited festival of Rath Yatra or Car Festival,which is mainly celebrated in Puri (Odisha) the land of Lord Jagannath on the1th July, Friday 2022, but the Utkal Sanakrutik Sangh a registered organization of people of odisha residing in & around Chandigarh is giving the same taste of Rath Yatra to the people of City Beautiful Chandigarh on the same dayat Lord Jagannath Temple, Sector-31-D, Chandigarh.

For the last many years, the Utkal Sanskrutik Sangh has been successfully celebrating Rath Yatra with the help of people of Chandigarh &Chandigarh administration for their full co-operation. This year the threedeities i.e. Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra arrived onthe decorated Chanot one by one by the devotees which is called ' 'Pahandi"after the special pooja and rituals that started from 9.30 AM.

After the arrival of the deities on the Chanot the Chiherapahara (Cleaning of Rath) was started which is the most famous ritual associated with the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra. During this ritual, the King sweeps all around the deities and chariots with a gold handled broom. The custom showcases that in the eyes of Lord Jagannath every devotee is equal beit the king or a common man.