Odisha Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Mohan Charan Majhi, along with Deputy Chief Ministers KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida, took part in a cleanliness drive in Puri on July 6, ahead of the start of the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra.
The Yatra, an annual event, will begin this year tomorrow.
ପବିତ୍ର ରଥଯାତ୍ରା ପୂର୍ବରୁ ପୁରୀ ବଡ଼ ଦାଣ୍ଡରେ ଆୟୋଜିତ ସ୍ବଚ୍ଛ ଭାରତ ଅଭିଯାନରେ ସାମିଲ ହୋଇ ନିଜକୁ ଧନ୍ୟ ମନେ କରୁଛି । ଆସନ୍ତାକାଲି ମହାପ୍ରଭୁ ଶ୍ରୀଜଗନ୍ନାଥ, ପ୍ରଭୁ ବଳଭଦ୍ର ଓ ଦେବୀ ସୁଭଦ୍ରା ବଡ ଦେଉଳର ରତ୍ନ ସିଂହାସନକୁ ଛାଡ଼ି ବଡଦାଣ୍ଡରେ ଲକ୍ଷାଧିକ ଭକ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରତ୍ୟକ୍ଷ ଦର୍ଶନ ଦେବେ, ଏହି ସମୟରେ ପରିବେଶକୁ ସ୍ୱଚ୍ଛ ଓ ସୁରକ୍ଷିତ… pic.twitter.com/mWqYqX2cBo
— Mohan Charan Majhi (@MohanMOdisha) July 6, 2024
Taking to ‘X’, CM Mohan Charan Majhi wrote, “I feel blessed to be involved in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan organised at Puri Lada Dand before the Holy Rath Yatra. Tomorrow, Lord Srijagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra will leave the jewelled throne of Baddana and give direct darshan to lakhs of devotees in Baddand. Jai Jagannath”.
President Droupadi Murmu is set to grace Odisha on the day of chariot pulling, which is a significant part of the rituals of the Shri Jagannath Yatra, said to symbolise the pulling of the Lord into one’s heart.
The President, who is a native of Odisha, will arrive in the state today and will witness the Gundicha Jatra (Car Festival) of Bhagwan Jagannath at Puri tomorrow.
Arun Kumar Sarangi, Odisha Director General of Police, spoke to ANI about the ongoing preparations ahead of the President’s visit.
“We are briefing the officers who are deployed for security at Puri for the Rath Yatra. All the senior officers are present. We have separate security arrangements for the visit of the President…” DGP Sarangi said.
The grand Rath Yatra, commencing on July 7, promises to draw lakhs of worshippers, eager to participate in one of the most revered and historic religious events in India.
According to Odisha Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena, 24-hour control rooms and medical kits for devotees in every bus deployed for the Yatra will be arranged.
“Our department has implemented many programs for the Rath Yatra. There will be a control room operating 24 hours a day, and six cranes will be stationed at different locations. In case of vehicle breakdowns, we have coordinated with various companies to provide breakdown services. Additionally, every bus will have a medical kit,” he said while speaking to ANI.
The Rath Yatra, also known as the Chariot Festival, is believed to be as old as the Jagannath Mandir in Puri.
The festival, celebrated with great fanfare from New Zealand to London and South Africa, encompasses the onward journey of the Holy Trinity to their maternal aunt, Mata Gundicha Devi’s Mandir, and culminates with the return journey after eight days.
(with inputs from ANI)
