The rath carrying the idol of Swami Vivekananda visiting Tiruchi on Tuesday.

Tiruchi, October 9, 2013: A rath yatra being taken out across the State in commemoration of 150{+t}{+h}birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda and to spread his messages and ideals reached the city on Tuesday to a warm reception.

Organised jointly by the Ramakrishna Mission and the Ramakrishna – Vivekananda Bhava Prachar Parishad, the rath yatra started off from Coimbatore on April 13 and has covered Nilgiris, Erode, Tiruppur, Karur, Dindigul, Theni, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Kanyakumari, Tuticorin, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga and Pudukottai before reaching Tiruchi.

Two chariots (rath) containing icons of Swami Vivekananda and his teachings were accorded a ‘poorna kumbha’ reception when it reached the Sri Ramakrishna Temple at Ponmalai here on Tuesday morning.

Later, it touched highways colony, airport and Tiruchi Junction before reaching National College where Passport Officer, Tiruchi, K.Balamurugan, college secretary K.Raghunathan offered their felicitations at a function held at the institution. K.Anbarasu, principal, presided. Swami Raghaveshanandhaji, president, Sri Ramakrishna Mutt, Udhagamandalam, delivered a special address.

The chariots will visit various places in the district on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday before leaving for Perambalur. The rath yatra concludes in Chennai on January 8.

Source: The Hindu, October 9, 2013