Bahuda Yatra unites over 1,000 devotees in Nigeria's Lagos
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Rourkela: Odia Samaj Association of Nigeria (OSAN) celebrated the Bahuda Yatra — the return journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra — with great fervour on Saturday, drawing over 1,000 devotees to the vibrant event in Lagos.
The festival saw the deities ceremoniously return to the Lord Jagannath temple, built in Lagos in 2017 as a replica of the iconic Puri shrine. The event was marked by devotional songs and authentic Odia cuisine, creating a spiritually charged atmosphere for devotees far from home.
The consulate general of India to Nigeria, Chandramouli Kern, and the head of chancery, N Mahesh, were among the dignitaries who joined the celebration.
"The Lord Jagannath temple in Lagos is a shining example of the cultural exchange between India and Nigeria. We are proud to see it thriving as a spiritual hub for the community," Kern said.
Prasant Das, President of OSAN, called the Bahuda Yatra an important symbol of unity for the diaspora. "This festival brings our community together and strengthens our bond. We are grateful to the consulate and dignitaries for their presence and support," Das told TOI.
Shivkumar, president of the India Cultural Association, described the event as a moment of pride. "We thank the Odia Samaj for celebrating this great festival here, giving us an opportunity to receive the blessings of Lord Jagannath."
Temple trustees Ramesh Biswal (Hindu Mandir Foundation) and Ashok Nayak (OSAN) expressed gratitude to the devotees for their enthusiastic participation, which they said filled the event with "high positive vibrations."
OSAN had earlier celebrated the Rath Yatra on June 27.
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