Rath Yatra starts with Pahandi Vijay ceremony in Digha

Time of India

27-06-2025

Rath Yatra
festival in West Bengal's coastal town of Digha begins amid multiple ceremonies with thousands thronging to Digha from various parts of the state.
In the newly constructed Jagannath Dham Temple in Digha, rituals start with Pahandi Vijay on a rainy morning in the beach town. Preparations and rituals for the idols before boarding the chariots have started from 9 am. Although the main ceremony of pulling the chariot is in the afternoon, the special rituals of putting the idols of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra from the temple to the chariot -which is known as Pahandi Vijay started at dawn.
Pahandi Vijay is an important ceremony of the Rath Yatra. In this procession, Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and the Sudarshan Chakra are taken from the temple to the chariot amidst musical ceremony and chanting of mantras. This ritual is not only religious, but a medley of devotion, emotion and festivity.
Thousands of devotees eagerly wait to see the idols and receive their blessings at this special moment.
'Inauguration will start at 2PM. The Chief Minister will come for the ceremony. There are certain rituals which will take place. With golden broomsticks, the roads will be mopped. Then Rath Yatra will commence at 2.30PM. It is an occasion for great happiness. There is no division between Bhagwan and Bhaktas (devotees). Lakhs of devotees have come from inauguration. There has been economic benefits for all the locals-from hotel businesses to shop owners,' ISKCON Vice-President Radharaman Das said.
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It has been raining heavily in Digha but preparations are underway for the chariot procession of the idols.
Radharaman Das, also in-charge of organizing the event, said that various religious rituals and festivals will continue till 5 pm, till Jagannath reaches Mashirbari, where the Jagannatha and his siblings reside for seven days Ultarath.
Das said, "Rain is the blessing of Jagannath. Rath Yatra means it will rain. In this rain, the common people will get wet and participate in the joy of the festival."
On Thursday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on the occasion of the Rath Yatra, "The priests will start the puja from 9 am. The temple will be open for general visitors from 9.30 am. The main idol will remain in the temple and the chariot will be decorated at night. Aarti will be held between 2 pm and 2.30 pm, and the chariot pulling will start at 4.30 pm."
She has said, 'To avoid any chaos, the road will be kept clear. Visitors will enjoy the Rath Yatra, standing behind barricades. The ropes of the chariot will be with the barricades, which the visitors will be able to touch. The chariot will stop at some places on the way so that everyone can have darshan.'
Overall, the Rath Yatra festival has begun in Digha with a mix of religious emotions, enthusiasm and administrative rigors, and its first step—Pahandi Vijay—has brought a unique feeling to the hearts of the devotees.
The newly constructed Jagannath Temple in Digha on the auspicious day of Akshay Tritiya on April 30. Modelled on Puri Jagannath temple, the Jagannath Dham, has been built at a cost of Rs 250 crore.
The temple complex has a 45-foot-high main entry gate. The magnificent complex boasts 108 auspicious steps leading to the sanctum housing the deities of Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra.
The magnificent structure, constructed using more than 300,000 cubic feet of Bansi Paharpur pink sandstone, from Rajasthan's Banshipaharpur, was completed by 3,000 workers including sculptors, masons, architects, and artisans. The sprawling campus is adorned with extensive theme lawns and over 500 newly planted trees.
ISKCON, which is running the temple in Digha's Jagannath Dham, said that Digha Ratha Yatra features three main chariots.
Nandighosha (Chariot of Lord Jagannath): 16 wheels, decorated in red and yellow.
Taladhwaja (Chariot of Balaram): 14 wheels, adorned in red and blue.
Darpadalana (Chariot of Subhadra): 12 wheels, draped in red and black.
The charioteer of Lord Jagannath's rath is Daruka, and the pulling rope is known as Shankhachuda.
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