Ratha Yatra, the chariot festival of Sri Jagannath Dev which is one of the major festivals of the Hindu community, began Tuesday with due religious fervor and enthusiasm.
In observance of the day, different religious bodies and temple committees chalked out various programmes.
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKON) chalked out an eight-day programme in Dhaka.
The programmes of the festival began in the morning with rendering of Harisangkirtan, holding of Agnihotra Jagna seeking world peace and people’s welfare, recitation of verses from Srimat Bhagabat Geeta, distribution of moha prosad, discussion, rendition of padaboli kirtan and arati, cultural function, staging of religious drama and screening of religious films.
The programmes of the ISKON at Swamibagh temple in Dhaka started in the morning with holding of Agnihotra Jagna seeking divine blessings for world peace and people’s welfare where a large number of devotees joined.
A discussion was organised there in the afternoon. Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader addressed the discussion as the chief guest with ISKCON Bangladesh General Secretary Charu Chandra Das Brahmachari in the chair.
Later, a colorful procession was brought out from Swamibagh temple with carrying images and idols of Sri Jagannath Dev, his brother Sri Balaram and sister Srimati Subhadra on three largely build Rathas (chariots).
Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pranay Kumar Verma inaugurated the procession.
Then, hundreds of devotees pulled the ropes of the chariots through Jaikali Temple, Motijheel Shapla Chattar, Dainik Bangla intersection, Gulistan, GPO intersection, High Court crossing, Doel Chattar, Central Shaheed Minar, Jagannath Hall, Palashi Crossing and rounded up the Ratha Yatra on the premises of the Dhakeshwari National Temple.
The country’s largest Ratha Yatra festival was held at Dhamrai in Manikganj district.
Besides, the Ratha Yatra festival was also celebrated at Ramseeta Mandir at Joikali Mandir Road at Shankharibazar and Jagannath Jeo Mandir at Tantibazar in old city and other places across the country.
Special security measures were taken marking the festival to avert any untoward incidents.
Ratha Yatra is a journey in a chariot with deities of Jagannath (Vishnu avatar), Balaram, or Balabhadra (his brother), Subhadra (his sister) and Sudarshana Chakra (his weapon) on a ratha, a wooden deula-shaped chariot accompanied by people in colorful procession.
It attracts over a million Hindu pilgrims who join the procession each year in the Indian subcontinent including Bangladesh for long.
The Ratha Yatra of Puri is considered the oldest and largest Hindu chariot festival celebrated annually, on the bright half of the lunar month of Aashar (June-July).
The eight-day Ratha Yatra festival will end with celebration of Ulto Ratha Yatra (reverse journey) on June 27.
Devotees will pull the ropes of the chariots on the same route from Dhakeshwari Temple to Swamibagh temple at 3pm.
State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Swapan Bhattacharjee will join the Ulto Ratha Yatra festival as the chief guest.
The festival will come to an end with Ulto Ratha Yatra (reverse journey).
