West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Joins ISKCON Rath Yatra in Kolkata

On Sunday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee paid her respects to Lord Jagannath and participated in the ISKCON Rath Yatra in Kolkata. She performed aarti and pulled the ropes of the chariot, offering prayers to Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Suvadra.

Mamata Banerjee announced that a grand Rath Yatra will be hosted in Digha next year. She extended her wishes to everyone, hoping for peace, amity, and prosperity by the grace of Lord Jagannath. She mentioned that millions across Bengal would join the chariot festival, including a huge congregation at historic Mahesh and her participation at ISKCON Kolkata.

Banerjee also shared that West Bengal is building a pride-inspiring temple complex for Lord Jagannath in Digha, where Rath Yatra will also be celebrated.

Meanwhile, the Jagannath Yatra began in Ahmedabad with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi attending. Patel performed the ‘Pahind Vidhi,’ the symbolic cleaning of the path for the chariot of Jagannath.

The Rath Yatra, also known as the Chariot Festival, is as old as the Jagannath Temple in Puri. Celebrated on the Dwitiya Tithi of Shukla Paksha in Ashadh, the festival involves carrying Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra, and his sister Subhadra on wooden chariots from Jagannath Temple to Gundicha Temple in Puri.