Pic : Internet, Paritosh Paul
On Sunday, the Rath Yatra festival was celebrated across the state, with thousands of devotees participating enthusiastically even as in the capital common people as ell as politicians and others enthusiastically participated in the Rath Yatra festival, pulling the chariots carrying Lord Jagannath and his siblings, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, through the main roads of the city. The Rath Yatras organized by the ISKCON temple and Jagannath Jeu Temple were the major highlights of the event, drawing devotees from across the state who celebrated with great fervor.
The ISKCON temple’s Rath Yatra was inaugurated by Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha at the Purbasha premises, in the presence of Minister Tinku Roy, BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharjee, and other dignitaries. The festival, celebrated in vibrant colors, showcased the rich heritage and culture of Tripura. Chief Minister Dr. Saha extended his greetings to the people of the state and prayed to Lord Jagannath for the overall welfare of Tripura.
Lok Sabha MP Biplab Kumar Deb participated in the Rath Yatra celebrations at Bishalgarh and Baikhora. Addressing the gathering, Dr. Saha expressed his joy in seeing the festival celebrated without any incidents and emphasized the collective effort to ensure this. He reminisced about inaugurating the traditional Rath Yatra at Melaghar, which saw the setup of over 400 stalls and attendance from people in Bangladesh. He explained that during the princely regime and the partition, the temple moved to Melaghar, and it holds many significant stories. He elaborated on the meaning of Jagannath as ‘Lord of the World’ and its importance.
Dr. Saha mentioned the historical references to Ratha Yatra in religious texts like the Brahma Purana and the Padma Purana. He recalled his visit to the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, and noted the significance of the Ratha Yatra there, one of the most renowned in the world. He shared an anecdote about visiting the temple during an oath-taking ceremony and observing the reopening of all temple doors post-Covid.
Reflecting on an unfortunate incident in Kumarghar in the Unakoti District last year, Dr. Saha detailed his proactive measures for this year’s celebration. He personally communicated with all the District Magistrates and District Superintendents of Police via video conferencing, providing them with suggestions to ensure safety. These included maintaining the chariot’s height and having ambulances, power department personnel, and personnel from the Tripura Police and Fire and Emergency Services on standby. He noted that these measures were well-maintained in Melaghar and Agartala, ensuring the festival was celebrated safely and joyously.
