Bhubaneswar: As a sea of humanity flocked to the Grand Road in Odisha’s Puri for the annual Rath Yatra of sibling deities of Jagannath Temple on Tuesday, President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and several other leaders greeted people on the auspicious occasion.
Extending her best wishes to all the countrymen, especially the devotees of Mahaprabhu, she hoped that this great festival of devotion brings happiness, peace and prosperity in everyone’s life.
Murmu also offered prayers at Jagannath Mandir at Hauz Khas, Delhi, this morning.
ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ ଶ୍ରୀଜଗନ୍ନାଥଙ୍କ ରଥଯାତ୍ରା ଉପଲକ୍ଷେ ମୁଁ ସମସ୍ତ ଦେଶବାସୀଙ୍କୁ, ବିଶେଷ କରି ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ ଶ୍ରୀଜଗନ୍ନାଥଙ୍କ ଭକ୍ତମାନଙ୍କୁ ହାର୍ଦ୍ଦିକ ଅଭିନନ୍ଦନ ଓ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା ଜଣାଉଛି। ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ ଶ୍ରୀଜଗନ୍ନାଥଙ୍କ ନିକଟରେ ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା କରୁଛି ଯେ ଭକ୍ତି ଓ ସମର୍ପଣର ଏ ମହାପର୍ବ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ ଜୀବନରେ ସୁଖ, ଶାନ୍ତି ଓ ସମୃଦ୍ଧି ଆଣିଦେଉ। ଜୟ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ… pic.twitter.com/j0yIzDaBw7
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) June 20, 2023
The Prime Minister attached a video clip along with his tweet in which he can be seen participating in a Rath Yatra procession. In the video, he is heard saying that though celebrated in many states of the country, the Rath Yatra in Puri is unique in itself. He also narrates his experience of participating in the Ahmedabad Rath Yatra when he was in Gujarat.
During his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ address on Sunday, PM Modi had also said that the Rath Yatra bears a unique identity throughout the world and “the Rath Yatra in Puri is a wonder in itself”.
Rath Yatra greetings to everyone. As we celebrate this sacred occasion, may the divine journey of Lord Jagannath fill our lives with health, happiness and spiritual enrichment. pic.twitter.com/ATvXmW3Yr0
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 20, 2023
Odisha CM wrote, “With the blessings of the Lord and your cooperation, let us pave the way for the development of New Odisha.”
ପବିତ୍ର ରଥଯାତ୍ରା ଅବସରରେ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ମୋର ହାର୍ଦ୍ଦିକ ଶୁଭକାମନା ଜଣାଉଛି। ମହାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କ ଆଶୀର୍ବାଦ ଓ ଆପଣମାନଙ୍କ ସହଯୋଗରେ ବିକାଶର ନନ୍ଦିଘୋଷ ନୂଆ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ପଥକୁ ସୁଗମ କରୁ। #ଜୟଜଗନ୍ନାଥ 🙏#RathaJatra2023 #ରଥଯାତ୍ରା୨୦୨୩ pic.twitter.com/OimnwSQVya
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) June 20, 2023
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra is a very sacred festival of Sanatan Dharma, which is observed with great devotion by crores of devotees across the country. “May this festival of Rath Yatra bring peace and prosperity in everyone’s life,” he tweeted.
The grand Rath Yatra begins after Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra are established on the three decorated chariots – Nandighosha, Taladhwaja, and Darpadalan – respectively. These chariots are pulled by a large number of devotees.
The rituals for the annual sojourn of the Lords will begin with Pahandi at 9.30 am.
Ritual Timings :
Pahandi start: 9.30 am
Pahandi end: 12.30 pm
Chhera Panhara: 2.30 pm to 3.30 pm
Pulling of Chariots: 4 pm
The Jagannath Rath Yatra 2023 can be watched live right from your television set via DD-Bharati, DD-Odia and other Doordarshan channels. Live streaming of the grand festival can be watched via the official Youtube channel of Doordarshan at https://www.youtube.com/DoordarshanNational. For mobile users, it can also be live-streamed via the Jio Cinema app.
