Patna: The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple in Patna organised a grand Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath on Sunday, drawing over 2.5 lakh devotees. The 40-foot-tall hydraulic chariot, adorned with flowers including roses, marigolds, orchids, and chrysanthemums from Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Thailand, carried Lord Jagannath, his brother Lord Baldev, and sister goddess Subhadra.
Crafted by artisans from Odisha, the chariot featured exquisite paintings and inscriptions of Krishna, Baldev, and Subhadra.The wheels were designed with motifs resembling conch shells and maces, adding to the visual splendour.
Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha performed aarti and ceremonially swept the road with a broom as the chariot commenced its journey. The Rath Yatra travelled through various locations in Patna, including Budh Marg, Tara Mandal, Vidyut Bhavan, Patna high court, Bihar Museum, and Patna Women’s College, before returning to the ISKCON temple.
The event resonated with the chanting of ‘Hare Krishna Hare Rama’ and ‘Jai Jagannath’ as devotees pulled the chariot with ropes. Drones showered flowers on the Lord during the journey. The chariot was decorated with intricate paintings and designs, and the entire temple complex was illuminated with colourful lights.
A grand feast was organised after the yatra, featuring a variety of dishes like puri, dal, chawal, sabzi, kheer, and mithai. ISKCON Patna president, Krishna Kripa Das, said, “A large quantity of prasad was distributed, including packets of peanuts, sugar crystals, and fennel seeds, which were handed out to devotees along the route. A community feast was organized on the return, featuring dishes like puri, dal, rice, vegetables, kheer, and sweets.”
Over 100 security personnel were deployed to ensure the safety and smooth conduct of the event. “We had made elaborate arrangements for the security and traffic management,” said city SP, central, Chandraprakash.
Traffic arrangements in the city were altered for the procession. Traffic on Budh Marg and GPO Golambar was changed half an hour before the procession began. Vehicle movement on and under the GPO flyover was halted, and vehicles were redirected towards R Block. Traffic on Bailey Road was also disrupted during the procession, with vehicles being diverted to alternative routes.
The Rath Yatra is an annual event organized by ISKCON temples worldwide.It is a replica of the famous Rath Yatra of Puri in Odisha, where Lord Jagannath is taken out in a procession on a chariot. The event is considered auspicious and is attended by devotees from all over the world.