Visakhapatnam, July 9, 2013: The Ratha Yatra of Lord Jagannadha Swamy temple located on the city’s Main Road entered its 150^th year this year.

The temple is 181 years old and an important landmark of the city. The Garuda family of the city found a Panchaloha idol of Lord Ranganadhaswamy on the present temple site and built a small temple with thatched roof. The family later took up construction of a temple for Lord Jagannadha, the family deity, and the construction was completed in 1862 and idols of Jagannadha, Balabhadra and Subhadra brought from Puri.

In the past the idols were kept in the Indrajyumna hall on the main road for 10 days during the annual festival and brought back to the temple again in the return Ratha Yatra but since the hall needed repairs, the idols are being kept at the Turner’s Choultry.

Dasavatarams are arranged during the 10 days and a large number of devotee visit Turner’s choultry during the festival. The details of the festival and arrangements made were informed at a press conference addressed by the EO of the temple, Allu Jagannadha Rao, Festival Officer D.V.V. Prasada Rao, priests Panangapalli Ranganadhacharyulu and Yedida Suresh Babu on Monday.

After the rituals for the last few days, the idols will leave for the Turner’s Choultry on Wednesday evening. From July 11 to 19 pooja and other rituals will be performed and groups of devotees will recite the Gita, the Vedas, Lalita Sahasranamam, singing of devotional music and discourses are also arranged.

Source: The Hindu, DT. July 9, 2013.