Industry Odisha Bureau, Jul 16: President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and several tall leaders of the country extended greetings to everyone on the sacred occasion of Rath Yatra.
“On this sacred occasion of Mahaprabhu’s Rath Yatra, I extend my heartfelt best wishes to all devotees of Shri Jagannath both in the country and abroad. It is a popular belief that during this great tradition of the holy procession, Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath, along with Chakraraj Sudarshan, elder brother Balabhadra, and sister Subhadra, meets the devotees,” the President wrote on X.
This emotional moment of union between the devotees and the Lord is unparalleled. My prayer is that, by the grace of Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath, there may be a continuous increase in the happiness and prosperity of the country and its people, she wished.
Modi remarked that Rath Yatra is a radiant expression of India’s timeless spiritual and cultural heritage, and embodies humility, collective participation and selfless service.
The Prime Minister posted on X: “Greetings to everyone on the sacred occasion of Rath Yatra. This is a radiant expression of India’s timeless spiritual and cultural heritage. The traditions associated with the Rath Yatra have inspired generations across India and the world. They embody humility, collective participation and selfless service.”
“May Mahaprabhu Jagannath bless everyone with good health, happiness and prosperity. May He give us strength for all our endeavours and deepen the spirit of togetherness in our society,” the PM wrote.
Similarly, Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati prayed for happiness, peace and prosperity in everyone’s life.
The governor prayed for strengthening unity, equality, brotherhood, and humanity among the people. “May the divine Rath Yatra of Lord Sri Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra further strengthen the great sentiments of faith, unity, equality, brotherhood, and humanity among us all. Through the boundless grace of the Lord, may happiness, peace, and prosperity prevail in everyone’s life. On this sacred occasion, my prayers to the Lord for the well-being of all. Jai Jagannath,” he said in a message.
Majhi, who has been camping at Puri for the last two days and monitoring preparations, wished for the state’s progress.
“Greetings to all on the occasion of Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, who is the crown jewel of crores of Odias. May the boundless grace and blessings of the Great Lord Shri Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Mother Subhadra boost happiness, peace, prosperity, and let the progress continue uninterrupted in the state,” the CM said.
The chariots of Lord Jagannath and his two siblings are all set to roll on Grand Road in Puri as nearly two lakh devotees have already reached the seaside pilgrim town to celebrate the annual Rath Yatra despite heavy rains, officials said.
Special arrangements have been made to drain out rainwater from the Grand Road in Puri and facilitate a smooth procession, as devotees will pull the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra along the thoroughfare from the 12th-century shrine to the Shree Gundicha temple, around 2.6 km away.
Devotees will begin pulling the chariots at 4 pm after the traditional chariot sweeping by Puri’s titular king Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb and Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati’s visit.
