Digha, Jun 27 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday inaugurated the first ‘Rath Yatra’ from the newly constructed Jagannath temple in the coastal town of Digha.
Amidst chants of ‘Joy Jagannath’ by thousands of pilgrims, the CM along with her cabinet colleagues pulled the ropes of the chariots of Lord Jagannath and his two siblings — Balabhadra and Subhadra — this afternoon.
She appealed through a public address system that the devotees could touch the ropes of all three chariots from inside the barricades along the 750-metre procession route from the main temple to the sibling deities’ aunt’s place.
On Thursday, the CM had made it clear that none would be allowed to spill onto the street to pull the ropes of the chariots of the sibling deities.
Earlier in the afternoon, Banerjee swept the road before the three chariots with a golden broom and offered ‘arati’ to the deities in a traditional ritual.
A group of children of ISKCON devotees from abroad performed to music by Madhab’s rock band, drawing applause from the crowd.
Around 40 ISKCON devotees, mostly international, danced for hours in front of the chariots to the devotional chants of ‘Hare Ram, Hare Krishna.” In a post on X, Banerjee said people cutting across different communities, religion, caste and creed have been taking part in Rath Yatra festival across Bengal for years.
“We believe everyone can follow their own faith and beliefs, but the message of every festival is universal, spreading amity and brotherhood,” she said in the post in Bengali wishing people on the occasion of Rath Yatra.
In a separate post on X in the evening, the CM said, “It was a profoundly emotional, soul-stirring, and awe-inspiring experience to be part of the Rath Yatra celebrations at the newly consecrated Jagannath Dham in Digha. The sound of conch shells, the fragrance of incense wafting through the air, and the resonant chants of ‘Joy Jagannath’ created an atmosphere of divine grace and spiritual unity.” “On this sacred day, I pray to Prabhu Jagannath to bless our land and its people, to fill every life with peace, prosperity, and strength, and to protect us from those who seek to divide, deprive, and oppress,” she added.
Meanwhile, senior BJP leader and Nandigram MLA Suvendu Adhikari in a post on X said the chariot of Lord Jagannath was stuck shortly after the journey of the deity commenced in the afternoon.
The leader of the opposition claimed that the chariot getting stuck was a sign that God was displeased with what he called “sacrilegious” activities carried out by the Mamata Banerjee government in the name of religion.
“Describing Mahakumbh as Mrityukumbh”, making negative comments about Sanatan Dharma, competing with an established religious place like Puri Jagannath Dham and preparing sweets as prasad — such acts earned wrath of the God. Hence the wheel of chariot got stuck. It is bad omen,” the leader of opposition said.
Meanwhile, ISKCON vice-president Radharamn Das told PTI that it is normal for a 16-wheeled chariot to need occasional adjustments while changing direction, as these chariots have no brakes.
“We often have to change the direction of a giant chariot, and the craftsmen adjust the wooden wheels to keep it on track. This is a regular occurrence during Lord’s Rath Yatra in Puri as well. The chariots reached Masir Bari on time by 4 pm,” he elaborated. PTI SUS BDC MNB
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