11 hours ago
Utkal Sanskrutika Samaj to celebrate Rath Yatra in Vizag on June 27
Utkal Sanskrurika Samaj, a socio-cultural organisation for Odias in Visakhapatnam will be celebrating Rath Yatra on Friday (June 27, 2025) coinciding with the Rath Yatra of Sri Jagannath Dham at Puri.
The idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra will be taken out in a colourful decorated chariot from the temple at Dasapalla Hills behind All India Radio to the Gundicha temple at Lawson's Bay colony amidst chanting of 'Hari bol' and Sankeertan.
The deities will be taken to the chariot from the sanctum sanctorum of the temple in a ritual called Pahandi Bije. Then after sweeping of the platform by the designated Gajapati J.K. Nayak, president of the Samaj, and vice president of OSL group of companies, the devotees would pull the chariot.
The chariot would pass through Vizag's VMRDA Children's Arena, AU Gate, Park Hotel and VUDA park to reach the Gundicha temple at Lawson's Bay Colony, where the deities will be in sojourn till July 5, and return that day known as Bahuda Yatra. There will be Pooja, Archana and offering of Odia ethnic savouries and Prasad sevan during the stay.
Marwadi Yuva Manch will provide drinking water to the devotees en route.
Various artistes will perform during the procession and Sankeertan deputed by the Culture Department of the Government of Odisha.
General Secretary of the Samaj Binal Kumar Mahanta has urged upon people to participate in large numbers in the divine procession.
