Thousands of British Hindus joined in vibrant festive cheer across different parts of the UK for the annual Rath Yatra celebrations over the weekend, from Slough and Harrow in London to Leicester and beyond.
India's Deputy High Commissioner to the UK, Sujit Ghosh, participated in the celebrations organised by the Shree Jagannatha Society UK and performed the sacred Chhera Paharna ritual – an important custom of the Rath Yatra which involves sweeping the chariot before the deities, symbolises humility and equality before God.
The Jagannath Rath Yatra, also known as the Chariot Festival or Shree Gundicha Yatra, is a significant celebration for Hindus around the world. The Yatra began on June 27 at Puri in Odisha, eastern India, and concludes this week with Lord Jagannath returning to the world-famous Jagannath Temple. Diaspora groups, temples and charities around the world also join in with similar recreation of the divine yatra, or journey.
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Shree Jagannatha Society UK said in a statement: “Rath Yatra will be celebrated with all rituals at the 3rd Upton Scout Headquarters, where you will have the opportunity to pull the Chariot with thousands of devotees.
“The deities will stay for nine days at the Slough Hindu temple, which will represent Maa Gundicha temple of Puri. Bahuda Jatra (the return journey of Mahaprabhu to their original place) will take place on July 5th at the Slough Hindu temple.”
Rath Yatra, one of the most celebrated festivals in the Vaishnav tradition, marks the annual journey of Lord Jagannath from his temple to his aunt's house – Gundicha Temple, symbolising his outreach to bless all devotees.
During the annual Rath Yatra, a massive crowd of devotees pull the holy chariots of three deities – Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Shubhadra, which are symbolically taken on the divine ride. The deities spend a week at the Gundicha Temple before returning to Jagannath Temple, amid chanting, drumbeats and an overwhelming sense of spiritual fervour.
Harrow East MP Bob Blackman had flagged the colourful annual celebrations in his north London constituency in the House of Commons last week.
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He said: “In Harrow, we will celebrate on Sunday (June 29), when the annual procession will take place. This year, it will be between Stanmore temple and Kenton temple — a seven-mile route, in 31-degree (Celsius) heat, taking about four hours to complete. The good news, of course, is that it is downhill this year, and not the uphill route from Kenton to Stanmore.”
Leader of the House of Commons Lucy Powell responded: “I join… in wishing everybody who is celebrating this weekend in his constituency and beyond a happy chariot festival, as I think it is also known.”
(*With ANI Inputs)