Rath Yatra festival celebrated with grandeur at ISKCON, Hare Krishna Mandir in Agartala; thousands join divine procession
Agartala (Tripura) [India], June 27 (ANI): Joining the nation in celebrating the auspicious festival of Rath Yatra, the ISKCON temple and Hare Krishna Mandir in Tripura's Agartala on Friday hosted a grand celebration, drawing thousands of devotees from across Tripura. The vibrant and spiritually uplifting procession was marked by chanting, devotional songs, cultural performances, and traditional rituals.
The streets of Agartala came alive as Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra, embarked on the annual chariot journey amid joyous cries of 'Jai Jagannath.' The holy chariots, magnificently decorated and pulled by enthusiastic devotees, wound through key parts of the city, echoing scenes witnessed across the country from Puri to Prayagraj.
Prominent political figures joined the celebrations, reflecting the deep cultural and spiritual connection that the Rath Yatra holds for the people. Among the dignitaries present were Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) Mayor Dipak Majumder, Cabinet Ministers Sushanta Chowdhury and Rinku Roy, and State BJP President Rajib Bhattacharjee.
In an exclusive interaction with ANI, AMC Mayor Dipak Majumder expressed his reverence for the event, saying, 'On the occasion of the holy Rath Yatra, I extend my heartfelt greetings to the people of the state. I will also pray to the Lord for the well-being and good health of all. Every year, I participate in this grand event, which witnesses the presence of lakhs of devotees. It feels wonderful to see such a huge gathering. Millions come out to catch a glimpse of Lord Jagannath.'
He further elaborated on the significance of the occasion, stating, 'According to tradition, Lord Jagannath stays at his aunt's house for seven days. The purpose of this journey is that the Lord himself comes out to bless his devotees. This grand celebration, rooted in Sanatan Dharma and Indian tradition, is awaited throughout the year. I pray that this divine tradition continues forever.'
The ISKCON and Hare Krishna Mandir authorities ensured the smooth conduct of the event, with elaborate security arrangements and facilities for the devotees. Volunteers managed crowd control, sanitation, and distribution of prasad (holy offering), while cultural troupes showcased devotional performances along the route.
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, especially those who may not be able to enter temples.
In Agartala, as in the rest of the country, the celebration was not just a religious event but a unifying cultural occasion, cutting across age, caste, and community lines -- echoing the deep spiritual fabric of India. (ANI)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
25 minutes ago
- India.com
What Did PM Modi And Shubhanshu Shukla Talk About? From 16 Sunrise And Sunset To Astronaut Strapping His Feet
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a conversation with Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the Indian Astronaut, who made a new record by becoming the first Indian to go to the International Space Station (ISS). The chat took place through video conferencing and was streamed live. Shubhanshu Shukla is currently on a space mission, orbiting 400 kilometres above the Earth. Here are the five things PM Modi and Shubhanshu Shukla talked about: 1- 'Hearts Of 140 Crore Indians…' The initial thing that PM Modi told the astronaut was, 'You may be far from us, but the hearts of 140 crore Indians beat with you,' and congratulated Shubhanshu for raising the nation's pride globally. 'Your name itself carries the word 'Shubh' (auspicious). And your journey symbolises the direction in which 'New India' is heading,' he said. 2- PM Modi's Carrot Halwa Question The Prime Minister asked whether the carrot halwa that Shubhanshu Shukla carried from India had been shared with his fellow astronauts. The astronaut said that he brought along several traditional Indian delicacies to the space station, including carrot halwa, moong dal halwa, and aam ras. He expressed his intent to offer his international colleagues a taste of India's rich culinary heritage. Shukla also informed PM Modi that the astronauts all sat together and enjoyed the dishes, which were very well received. 3- 16 Sunrise And Sunset The PM, stating that circumambulation, or 'parikrama', has been a revered Indian tradition for centuries, said that Shukla now had the rare honour of performing 'parikrama' of Mother Earth herself. PM Modi inquired which part of the Earth Shubhanshu might be orbiting over at that moment. Responding to that, the astronaut said a short while earlier, he had seen through the window that they were passing over Hawaii. He shared that they complete 16 orbits a day, witnessing 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets from space, an experience that continues to amaze him. 4- Did Shubhanshu Shukla Strap His Feet? Highlighting that Shubhanshu Shukla was the first Indian to be on board the ISS, the Prime Minister enquired with him about the contrast between his rigorous preparation on Earth and the actual conditions aboard the space station. The astronaut shared that despite knowing about zero gravity and the nature of experiments in advance, the reality in orbit was entirely different He remarked that the human body becomes so accustomed to gravity that even the smallest tasks in microgravity become unexpectedly complex. He humorously noted that during the conversation, he had to strap his feet down—otherwise, he would just float away. 5- Experiments In Space PM Modi asked whether any of the space experiments being conducted would benefit the agriculture or health sector in the future. Shubhanshu Shukla shared that, for the first time, Indian scientists have designed seven unique experiments which he has taken to the space station. He informed that the first experiment, scheduled for that day, focuses on stem cells and explained that in the absence of gravity, the body experiences muscle loss, and the experiment seeks to test whether specific supplements can prevent or delay this loss. He highlighted that the outcome of this study could directly help elderly people on Earth who face age-related muscle degeneration. Shubhanshu further stated that another experiment focuses on the growth of microalgae. He remarked that though microalgae are small in size, they are highly nutritious. He noted that if methods can be developed to grow them in larger quantities based on the findings in space, it could significantly aid food security on Earth. He underlined that one major advantage of conducting experiments in space is the accelerated pace of biological processes, enabling researchers to obtain results much faster than on Earth. Axiom 4 Mission Axiom 4 mission aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft successfully docked at the ISS on Thursday. The Dragon spacecraft was ahead of schedule, autonomously docking at 4:05 pm (IST) to the space-facing port of the space station's Harmony module. As per ANI, former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, ESA (European Space Agency) astronauts Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and Tibor Kapu of Hungary lifted off at Noon IST on June 25, on the SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. The Axiom-4 team will remain aboard the ISS for up to 14 days, engaging in science experiments, outreach, and commercial work.
Time of India
44 minutes ago
- Time of India
Modi talks to Group Captain Shukla, says this mission is first step towards India's own space station
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a conversation with astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla , who is at the International Space Station, on Saturday in which the two discussed the experiments the latter is conducting during his stay and how it will benefit the country in sectors like agriculture and health. Modi emphasized that this is 'the first chapter' in the march towards the Gaganyaan mission and establishment of India's own space station in the near future. In an interaction that lasted 18 minutes, Shukla shared his experiences and challenges during his space journey. With the Indian flag as the background, India's second man in space said he is conducting seven unique experiments designed by Indian scientists, including stem cell research. Shukla's message to India's youth was to 'never stop trying and never give up'. Success, he said, will come sooner or later. 'Sky is never the limit. Not for me, not for you and not for the country,' he added. Prime Minister Modi said he sees Shukla's flight as a part of the goals of launching Gaganyaan, establishing India's own space station and landing an Indian on the moon. He emphasized that Shukla's experiences will help in this endeavour. Shukla assured the PM that he is absorbing all knowledge 'like a sponge' and his learnings will help in India's future missions. Live Events The prime minister said this mission will give impetus to India's Viksit Bharat program . 'India is going to open the doors to future space missions of the world. Now India will not just fly missions but prepare the stage for other space flights,' Modi said. Shukla said from space, earth is visible as one without any national boundaries and one gets the feeling of oneness with all its inhabitants. Expressing his gratitude towards 140 Crore Indians for their wishes, he said India appears grander in 3-D from space. Prime Minister Modi gave his good wishes to the astronaut and asked about his well-being. 'You are farthest from your motherland but let me assure you that you are close to the heart of all Indians… Though at present just the two of us are talking to each other, the feelings of 140 Crore Indians are with us. The enthusiasm and excitement of all Indians is a part of this,' Modi said. Shukla maintained that while growing up he had never imagined he would become an astronaut one day and the way India is marching ahead today makes this possible. He shared that he witnesses 16 sunrises and sunsets every day and the space station is moving at a speed of 28,000 kilometres per hour. Shukla said he has shared with fellow astronauts the gajar and moong halwa he is carrying with him. He wanted them to know about India's rich culinary heritage, he added.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
In his fifth year, chief minister Dhami to gift a comprehensive women's policy
File photo of Pushkar Singh Dhami (Pic credit: ANI) Under Pushkar Government's Four-Year Tenure, Women Empowered at Every Level — From Government Jobs to Cooperative Societies, Women Got Reservation Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami , in the fifth year of his tenure, is set to gift the women of Uttarakhand a comprehensive women's policy. Uttarakhand's first women-centric policy is likely to be tabled in the cabinet soon. Through this, the government will lay out a structured roadmap for the economic and social empowerment of women. Over the past four years, Chief Minister Dhami has already taken major steps—granting 30% reservation for women in government jobs and, for the first time, implementing women's reservation in cooperative societies—aiming to strengthen women's leadership at all levels. To economically empower women, innovative schemes like Mahila Saarthi Yojana, Ekal Mahila Swarozgar Yojana, and Lakhpati Didi have also been successfully implemented on the ground. Reservation in government jobs The Pushkar Singh Dhami government has reinstated 30% horizontal reservation for women of Uttarakhand in government jobs. This benefit is extended to all women who have domicile status in Uttarakhand. Since this policy came into effect, the number of women employees in government offices has increased. After receiving the Governor's approval, the women's reservation officially came into force from 10th January 2023. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Order New Blinds Online & Get $199 Home Installation Learn More Undo Reservation in cooperative societies The Dhami government has also implemented 33% reservation for women in cooperative societies. While local bodies and panchayats in Uttarakhand already had women's reservation, this move ensures women's leadership now emerges even in cooperatives. The implementation of this policy at the grassroots level is being seen as a potential game-changer. Opportunities for self-employment On March 8, 2025 (International Women's Day), the government launched the Mahila Saarthi Yojana as a pilot project in Dehradun. Under this scheme, women are now earning livelihoods by driving auto-rickshaws and two-wheelers to ferry passengers. Additionally, schemes like Lakhpati Didi, Mukhyamantri Sashakt Bahna Utsav Yojana, Ekal Mahila Swarozgar Yojana, and Drone Didi are creating multiple self-employment opportunities for women across the state. 'Women are the backbone of Uttarakhand's society. Our government believes that without empowering women, the progress of society is impossible. That's why we've launched several women-centric schemes that will prove to be game-changers in the future. Continuing this commitment, we are soon bringing a comprehensive Women's Policy," said Pushkar Singh Dhami, chief minister.
