The proof that eight chariots criss-crossing the length and breadth of Orissa getting massive support was demonstrated in Kalinga Nagar area, where tribals overcoming their shock of police firing, participated in hundreds and danced to the tune of their music to welcome Ma Biraja Rath as it rolled on in their locality.
Dressed in their traditional attire and equipped with their traditional weapons, the tribals accorded a warm welcome to the rath. To mark the inauguration of year-long birth-centenary celebrations of the second Sarsanghachalak of RSS, Shri M.S. Golwalkar, a massive congregation of five lakh people is planned to be held amidst seven mahayajnas in Chakapad, one of the important tribal heartland in the state.
Seven mahayajnas have been planned as part of the three-day inauguration programme including installation of temple dedicated to Birupakhya Mahadev there.
The seven mahayajnas include Ghruta Yajna, Deepa Yajna, Nama Yajna, Gyana Yajna, Seva Yajna, Anna Yajna, Dharma Jagaran Yajna.
The eight raths dedicated to as many goddesses would reach Chakapad on April 8 marking the beginning of the three-day inaugural celebrations. These raths include Bimala Rath from Puri, Chandi Rath from Cuttack, Biraja Rath from Jajpur, Tarini Rath from Ghatgaon, Samaleswari Rath from Sambalpur, Taratarini Rath from Ganjam, Patenaswari Rath from Patnagarh and Manikeswari Rath from Malkanagiri.
These raths amidst religious programmes are carrying sacred water and soil greeted by thousands of people. The soil and water thus carried will be used in the yajnas and installation of temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and statue of Adi Shankaracharya.
Prominent among those who will address the gathering include Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Gobardhanpeeth, Puri, Swami Nischalananda Saraswati, RSS Sarsanghachalak Shri K.S. Sudarshan, VHP International President Shri Ashok Singhal and National President of Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, Shri Jagdev Ram Oram.
State General Secretary of Shri Guruji birth centenary celebrations Shri Gopal Prashad Mohapatra said the whole state is presently according a grand welcome to Astamatruka Rath Yatra at different places.
Ma Tarini Rath which started its journey from Ghatagaon was given hearty welcome by Muslims of Bhadrak when it reached there. Muslims of Bhadrak had erected attractive pillars and posters along each stretch of the road to welcome the rath, said RSS Prachar Pramukh Simanchal Khatua. Thousands of people welcomed the Samaleswari Rath when it passed Jharsuguda. More than one thousand women were seen greeting the holy chariot in a kalash procession.
The Chandi Rath from Cuttack was piously attended by heads of different sahis by splendour of bhajans and sankirtan. Likewise, the Taratarini Rath was offered puja by thousands of people of Bhanjanager and Jagannath Prasad. Manikeswari Rath passing through the Maoist-infested regions was attended in large numbers by local tribals. Several newspapers even reported that Maoist rebels offered puja in the said rath.
Talking to Organiser, Prant Pracharak of Orissa Shri Ajit Prashad Mohapatra informed that more than 4000 Christians welcomed the rath yatra in different regions of the state. Christian leader John Dayal was in Orissa to disrupt the rath yatra but he could not succeed in his attempt.
Ashram of Swami Laxmananda Saraswati in Chakapad has become the centre of activities with massive scale preparations are going on there. In the last 40 years of dedicated service in the region, Swami Saraswati has brought revolutionary changes in education and economy of the tribal people there. While the conversion bid of the missionaries has been restricted, he has played a pioneering role in bringing people back to Hinduism.
