The Lord's rath rolls out in Allahabad, Kashi

ALLAHABAD: Jagannath Rath yatra was taken out with gaiety and devotional fervour by various religious organizations here on Sunday. Cutting across community barriers, people participated in pulling the exquisitely built 18-feet tall chariot 'Nandighosh' and two others in which Lord Jagannath, Lord Balbhadra and their sister Subhadra were seated.
Each Rath Yatra started with the ritual of paying obeisance to Lord Jagannath and subsequent installation of the deities in chariots.
Shri Jagannathji Mahotsav Samiti started the proceedings at Arya Bhawan. The installation ceremony was performed by Acharya Phulchandra Shukla.
Commenting on the importance of the day he said, "It is on this day that Lord Jagannath, Balbhadra and their sister Subhadra leave their home (temples) to rest at their relative's place for a brief period."
Mayor Abhilasha Gupta performed the 'aarti' while Mahant of Baghambari Mutt Narendra Giri and Harichaitanya Brahmachari, priests and students recited Vedic verses as they pulled the ropes of the chariot to start the journey of the deities from their temple.
They were accompanied by hundreds of residents who participated in the procession by pulling the chariots driven by 16 wheels.
Vibrancy was in the air as devotees performed 'dandia' all the way through the route of the yatra. Devotees had put up stalls at various points of the route taken by the Rath Yatra. They distributed sweets and custard among passers by.
The chariots were led by musical bands and decked up tableaux showcasing the 'Maharas' of Lord Krishna and 'Gopis'. Artistes on tableaux depicting the 'Narsimha' incarnation of Lord Vishnu and various episodes from the life of Lord Krishna were an added attraction of the Rath Yatra. The tableaux procession was led by samiti's president Govardhan Das Gupta and convener Basant Lal Azad.
Further, the decked up elephants and horses attracted the denizens as the procession passed through the Old City areas.
Similarly, Shri Jagannath Swami RathYatra Samiti took out the procession in a grand way from Jagannath Temple, Triveni Marg at around 10.30am. The chariot was led by priests and even a large number of women devotees pulled the ropes of the chariot in various parts of the Old City areas. The office-bearers and devotees distributed 'prasad' to passers by across the five-kilometre-long route from which the chariot passed.
Mahendra Tiwari along with other office-bearers led the chariot. Similarly, Katra Jagannath Mahotsav also took out the Rath Yatra with devotional zeal. ISKCON members also participated in the celebrations.