Last year, the authorities had performed all the rituals at the temple complex on Albert Road. (file)
Kolkata:
In a departure from tradition, Lord Jagannath and his divine siblings, amid the COVID-19 restrictions, will waive the hand-drawn chariot this time and will instead travel in a convoy of 15 cars, covering a distance of three kilometres. ISKCON at the 50th Rath Yatra celebrations of Kolkata.
Even at the organization’s global headquarters in Mayapur, the annual celebration will be a low-key affair, as only one tableau will be brought out on the premises, with about 50 people taking turns to draw it.
The city chapter of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), which was to mark its golden jubilee with gala celebrations on the occasion of Rath Yatra this year, had to cancel its plans due to COVID-related restrictions, its spokesperson said. Radharaman Das said. on Saturday.
However, the organization has made arrangements to ensure that the festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm, he said.
“On the day of the Rath Yatra (July 12), around 12 noon, the deities Shri Jagannath, Baldev and Subhadra Devi will travel from our Albert Road office to another center on Gurusaday Road, where they will remain till the evening of July 20.” explained.
However, he lamented the fact that preparations were on to celebrate the Golden Jubilee for the past seven years, and the Center had plans to embellish the chariots and take out a huge procession to mark the occasion, but all that had to be cancelled. In view of the pandemic.
“We wanted to invite devotees from over 150 different countries and 1200 ISKCON centres. But all the plans have been cancelled. Also, with the threat of the third wave of the pandemic, we are asking people to stay at home and direct the chariot. You are requested to watch the broadcast. Yatra rituals on our YouTube channel or Facebook page,” Mr. Das said.
Last year, the authorities had performed all the rituals at the temple complex on Albert Road.
“Three small chariots drawn by children were taken out by the monks for some time in the temple premises as a symbolic gesture,” said Mr. Das.
In Mayapur, a temporary Gundicha temple will be set up in the premises, where the three deities will have darshan for nine days, as per rituals, said Subroto Das, spokesperson of the organisation’s headquarters. Chariots on Rath Yatra in Kolkata
“A team of 50 persons, which includes devotees, will perform direct ‘seva’ to the deities – pull the chariot, prepare the chappan bhog (56 dishes), make the garland, decorate the tableau. Instead of three, there will be just one chariot. to be thrown out.”
The Rath Yatra commemorates the annual visit of the three deities to the Gundicha temple.
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