Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 16: International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is organizing “Shree Jagannath Rath Yatra” for the third consecutive year in the City of Temples on April 22.
This was disclosed by Navyogendra Swami while addressing a press conference here this afternoon.
He said that this is the third consecutive Rath Yatra in the J&K and thousands of devotees across the State and outside are going to participate in this event.
“The Rath Yatra will commence from City Palace, Kachi Chawni at 12 noon on April 22 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 Road at around 8 pm”, he said, adding that Prasadam will be served to everyone thereafter.
One day prior (April 21), Maha-Aarti Utsav will be organised at City Palace, Kacchi Chawni from 5 pm onwards in which there will be an offering of 56 Bhoga (Foodstuffs) as well as 108 Aarties (worship) to Lord Jagannath, Baldeva and Subhadra. Thereafter dinner Prasadam will be served to all.
“To give benefit to the people of the world, the founder Acharya of ISKCON, C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada introduced the Rath Yatra festival throughout the globe”, he maintained.
Highlighting the importance of the Rath Yatra, Swami ji said that the Rath Yatra festival of chariots originates in Puri, Odisha and it is the oldest known festival and has been celebrated for over thousands of years.
Swami ji said that the Lord Jagannath is so merciful that he himself comes out of the temple for those who do not come to the temple. He added that his brother Baldev and sister Subhadra will accompany the Lord and a beautiful chariot has been made for the Lord.
Swami Ji appealed the people to participate in the Rath Yatra and have the Darshan of the Lord Jagannath.
Vikram Malhotra, President Rath Yatra Committee, Jai Keshav Das, organizing president, Rajan Bhan, welcome committee president, Balbir Singh, general secretary, Gaur Hari Das alongwith executive members of the Jagannath Rath Yatra Committee including Surinder, Sanjeev, Krsnaravind Das, Ravi Kanta Das, Neeraj Bhartiya, Arun, Anuj, Nadhi Dhar Das, Ehsas, Sandeep and Praveen were also present.
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