A large number of devotees gathered at the Jagannath temple in Puri when the grand annual Rath Yatra festival started on Friday morning. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Draupadi Murmu also greeted the devotees.
Significantly, people from all over the country reached Gundicha temple to see the grand chariots of the three gods, Lord Jagannath, his brother Lord Balabhadra and sister Devi Subhadra, where the gods live for a week and then return to the Jagannath temple.
PM Modi wishes
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday greeted the occasion of Jagannath Rath Yatra. On his official ‘X’ handle, PM Modi wished everyone “happiness, prosperity, good luck and good health”.
PM Modi wrote in his ‘X’ post, “My heartfelt greetings to all the countrymen on the auspicious occasion of Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra. This holy festival of faith and devotion brought happiness, prosperity, good luck and good health in everyone’s life. Jay Jagannath!”
Apart from the Jagannath Rath Yatra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also wished Kutch New Year on the occasion, which starts from the second day of Ashadh month according to the Hindu calendar.
Prime Minister Modi wrote in his ‘X’ post, “On the special occasion of Ashadhi seeds, especially best wishes to the Kachhi community around the world. The coming year brought peace, prosperity and amazing health for everyone.”
President Murmu prayed for peace, prayer for harmony
President Draupadi Murmu also greeted the devotees of Lord Jagannath in India and abroad on the occasion.
The President wrote in a post on X in Odia, “On the occasion of the Holy Rath Yatra, I wish the devotees of Lord Jagannath living in India and abroad. On the chariot, Lord Balabhadra, Lord Shri Jagannath, Goddess Subhadra and Chakraraj Sudarshan have a feeling of divine bliss to millions of devotees.
In his message, he prayed for global peace, friendship and harmony. He said, “The human divine Leela of the gods is the specialty of the Rath Yatra. On this auspicious occasion, I pray to God to maintain peace, friendship and harmony all over the world.”
Home Minister Amit Shah also gave best wishes
Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on the occasion of the holy Jagannath Rath Yatra, described this festival as “unique confluence of faith and devotion”.
In a post on X, Shah highlighted the importance of the Rath Yatra and said that it presents the essence of moving forward by cherishing devotion, culture and heritage.
Shah posted on X, “Jai Jagannath! Heartfelt greetings to everyone on the holy festival of Shri Jagannath Rath Yatra. Shri Jagannath’s Rath Yatra is a unique confluence of faith and devotion, which teaches us that moving forward is the origin of our existence by cherishing devotion, culture and heritage. I pray for our existence.
Odisha Chief Minister gave a message
Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi warmly welcomed the devotees on the occasion of the annual Rath Yatra and urged them to participate in it with full faith and devotion.
In his message, Chief Minister Majhi said, “Join the Rath Yatra with faith and devotion, have a divine vision of Mahaprabhu on the chariot and receive his blessings.”
The city of temples Puri is fully prepared for the Jagannath Rath Yatra of 2025, which is starting from today.
During the festival, devotees draw the grand chariots of three gods – Lord Jagannath, his brother Lord Balabhadra and sister Devi Subhadra to the Gundicha temple, where the gods live for a week and then return the Jagannath temple. The Rath Yatra is expected to gather large crowds at the ceremony, making traffic management a major issue.