Visakhapatnam, July 18, 2013: The return rath yatra marking the culmination of annual car festival by Utkal Sanskrutika Samaj and Utkalika Cultural Association of Ukkunagaram will begin on Thursday.

However, the oldest rath yatra being organised for the past 150 years in the city by the Jagannadha Swamy Temple on the Main Road will have the return rath yatra from the Turner’s Choultry on July 20.

Also known as Bahuda Yatra, the return yatra brings an end to the sojourn of Lord Jagannath, His elder brother Lord Balabadhra and sister Devi Subhadra at His aunt’s place called Gundicha Ghar.

Once in a year, the Lord of the Universe comes out of the main temple to the streets to give darshan to the aam admi .

The ‘chhera pahanra’ – the sweeping of the floor by a VVIP by a golden or silver broom – is also aimed at sending the message that a king or beggar, all are equal before the almighty.

Utkalika Cultural Association, which is conducting the car festival at Ukkunagaram Township of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, will organise the return yatra at 2:30 p.m.

After going round the various areas in the township, it will return to Sri Mandir in the main temple complex in Sector-9. A scintillating dance programme by Bloo-I Academy will be conducted on the occasion.

The divine return journey of Lord Jagannath will start at Gundicha Ghar located in Lawson’s Bay Colony at 4 p.m. It will reach the Jagannath temple complex on Daspalla Hills two hours later. A 20-member artistes from Kesinga representing Brindavan Sanskrutika Anusthan will present Ghumura dance, a popular tribal dance of Odisha’s Kalahandi district.

Source: The Hindu, DT. July 18, 2013.