Visakhapatnam, July 7, 2013: International Society for Krishna Consciousness is organising a 35 feet Jagannath Rath to be pulled by the city devotees on July 10.

This is the fifth year ISKCON is organising Rath Yatra in the city. The procession is scheduled at 4 p.m. from Sampath Vinayak temple to Gurajada Kalakshetram passing through Dabagardens, Jagadamba junction, Waltair road and Siripuram.

Bhajans, kirtans and kolatam apart from distribution of maha prasadam would mark the celebrations. More than 200 varieties of traditional dishes will be offered on the day. It is believed that there will not be any rebirths for those who witness Lord Jagannath during the Rath Yatra. So it is good to pull the chariot and seek the blessings of the Lord, said president of ISKCON Samba Das addressing the media.

With the canopy of the chariot being brought from Puri, exclusive flowers from Bangalore and clothes for the processional deities from Mathura, the Rath Yatra will be celebrated as similar to the Rath Yatra at Puri on Aashada Shukla Dwitiya where some 3,000 devotees are expected to participate.

Netrostav

Meanwhile, the Utkal Sankrutika Samaj, a leading socio-cultural organisation of Odias in the city, will begin the celebration of annual rath yatra (car festival) of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra with the performing of Netrotsav on Monday and Tulasi vesam on Tuesday.

The chariot will be pulled for the annual sojourn of the deities at their aunt’s place near Santiashram on the beach road from the temple located on Daspalla Hills on July 10. Hera Panchami will be observed on July 18. Samaj president J.K. Nayak and secretary Bijay Mahapatra appealed the devotees to take part in the celebrations in large numbers.

Source: The Hindu, DT. July 7, 2013.