Balasore: Thousands of devotees witness Emami Rath Yatra festival

By Sudam Patra

Balasore, June 21: Lord Jagannath’s annual Rath Yatra was celebrated at Emami Jagannath Temple on Tuesday with intense fervour and enthusiasm.

Thousands of crowds gathered at Emami Jagannath Temple located in the premises of Emami Paper Mill at Balgopalpur near Remunda here in the district and pulled the chariot of the Almighty.

Emami CMD Sushil Kumar Goenka performed the traditional Chhera Panhara or sweeping of the chariot following which the devotees pulled the chariot.

Pradeep Mishra, the chief priest, performed the morning rituals leading to the pulling of the chariot.

Elaborate security arrangement was made for smooth conduct of the spiritual journey of the deity.

The atmosphere was completely charged with the spiritualism with playing of musical instruments like gong bells, cymbals, mridangam and trumpet. Sankirtan troupes performed Sankirtan.

Special Sankirtan troupes were invited from Kolkata to add to the spiritual fervor of the festival.

Emami Group Vice president Asish Abinas Gupta, Sreemandir Adminstrator Nikhil Chandra Samantroy, AGM cum PRO Manoj Kumar Padhi and other distinguished members were present to success the Ghosa Yatra.

Despite adverse weather, the devotees participated in Rath Yatra.

More than 20,000 people partook Prasad on the occasion.