Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 20: Shree Jagannath Rath Yatra, will be taken out on April 30 by International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). This was announced by Navayogendra Swami Maharaj chairman of Lord Jagarnath Rath Yatra Committee while talking to reporters here today.
He said prior to the rath yatra a Maha Aarti Utsav of the lord will be held at City Palace, here on April 29 from 5 pm onwards. In this festival 56 Bhoga (foodstuffs) will be offered to the Lord. This will be followed by Gaur Aarti in which there will be an offering of 108 Aarties to Lord Jagannath, Baldeva & Subhadra. Thereafter Navayogendra Swami Maharaj will give a discourse with Harinaam Sankirtan. After that dinner Prasadam will be served to devotees.
He said on April 30 Rath Yatra festival will be celebrated. The procession of the Lord will start from Red Cross Bhawan (City Palace) Kacchi Chawni at 12 noon and will pass through Parade, Shalamar, Kanak Mandi, Rajinder Bazar, Shahidi Chowk, Raghunath Mandir, Indira Chowk, Gummat, Vinayak Bazar, Canal Road, Talab Tillo, Bohri and will reach Kashmir Hills Resort, Patta Borhi, Jammu at around 8 pm. Dinner Prasadam will be served to everyone thereafter.
Swami Ji said that the pulling of Rath (Cart) during the Rath yatra procession by the devotees symbolizes the attempt of the residents of Vrindavan to bring Krishna, Balarama and Subdhara back to Vrindavan from Kurukshetra. Therefore pulling the rope of the Chariot also signifies trying to bring Krishna (the supreme Lord) back to our heart, he added.
Traditionally Rath Yatra was originated from Jagannath Puri , Orissa, thousands of years ago and by the mercy of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (Founder Acharya of International Society for Krishna Consciousness) is being celebrated in more than 100 cities of the world including Dublin, Belfast, Mexico, Singapore, New York etc, in which millions of people from all religions participate in the spirit of love for God. His Holiness explained that Lord Jagannath is not different from Lord Krishna, Baladev his elder brother; Balaram while Subhadra Devi is their younger sister.
Sarvabhaum Bhattacharya Das, Temple president ISKCON Jammu, Vikram Malhotra: president Shree Jagannath Rath Yatra Committee, Jai Keshav Das: organizing president Shree Jagannath Rath Yatra Committee, Kuldeep Raj Dubey: president Swagat Committee, Pramod Kapahi: senior. vice president Swagat Committee, Rajan Bhan : general secretary, Shree Jagannath Rath Yatra Committee and all the exalted devotees of Lord Jagannath were present on this grand occasion.
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