2 days ago
Devotion powers 18 years of Rath Yatra at Rental Colony
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Bhubaneswar: In the heart of Bhubaneswar, a vibrant tradition has been thriving for nearly two decades, uniting the community in a celebration of faith and togetherness. Rental Colony has hosted the Rath Yatra for the past 18 years, marking the annual journey of Chaturdamurti.
What began as a modest initiative by residents has grown into a cherished event, drawing participants from the colony and nearby areas. The celebration traces its roots to a small Hanuman and Shiva temple, which laid the spiritual foundation for the establishment of the Jagannath Temple in 2005.
In 2007, the Rath Yatra was introduced, inspired by the community's devotion. Since then, it has become a major event in the locality's cultural calendar.
Pravakar Satpathy, the temple's chief priest, stresses the importance of performing rituals similar to the Rath Yatra in Puri. "It is the divinity of the deities which gave us power to organise the Rath Yatra with ease," he said, highlighting the spiritual strength behind the event.
Now, the deities reside in Anasara Gruha, and devotees worship the Pati Dian, or representative images of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra.
Satpathy and his team meticulously perform every ritual — from Mailama and Nabajoubana to Adharapana — preserving the sanctity of the celebration.
A key feature of the festival is the construction of the chariot. Chief carpenter Nilakantha Moharana has been leading the effort since Akshaya Tritiya, crafting the 21-feet-high structure using the same type of wood for years. Moharana ensures the rath is ready to carry the Chaturdamurti to the nearby Shyamakali Temple, which symbolically serves as the Gundicha Temple.
"This is the same wood we have been using for years now for making the chariot," Moharana noted. He underscores the continuity and tradition embedded in the annual festival.
Ashok Raj, a member of the organising committee, invited all to join the celebrations. "We have been organising the Rath Yatra for 18 years now. We are always making extra efforts to make the celebrations special," he said.
Rath Yatra at Rental Colony is more than a festival — it is a powerful reflection of community, continuity and devotion.
