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India.com
27-06-2025
- India.com
Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025: Why Devotees Try To Touch The Chariot Rope During Festival
New Delhi: The auspicious and much-revered Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra has commenced this year from June 27. The 15-day long festivity is celebrated with much gusto and enthusiasm among the devotees who visit the temple town of Puri in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The Rath Yatra or journey of the chariots has a huge religious significance. About Jagannath Rath Yatra Jai Jagannath… — Sudarsan Pattnaik (@sudarsansand) June 27, 2025 During the month of Asadha in June or July, the presiding deities—Lord Jagananth, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra are taken from their Puri temple to Bada Danda and complete the distance of almost 3 km to Shri Gundicha Temple on huge chariots respectively. — Shree Jagannatha Temple, Puri (@JagannathaDhaam) June 27, 2025 Why Devotees Try To Touch The Chariot Rope If you ever have noticed watching the videos or pictures from the famous Rath Yatra in Odisha, devotees try to touch the chariot rope of carrying the deities. But why? Well, let's try to find out here: The holiness of the chariot rope is one of them. It is believed that the Lord himself comes to the human level to show and tell them that he is like any of his devotees. Simple love and faith can make any devotee witness the supreme power of the Lord's divinity. — Shree Jagannatha Temple, Puri (@JagannathaDhaam) June 27, 2025 Such is the love of Lord Jagannath that there are many rituals which show how pure love is enough for the Lord to descend from his pedestal just to bless his devotees! It is believed that the chariot is the embodiment of the Lord himself, while the soul lies inside the deities placed on the chariots. This is one of the occasions when the Lord chooses to merge with the masses and gives them a way to reach out to him—therefore touch him and feel his blessings. Devotees can do that by touching the rope. It is believed that touching of the rope will cleanse all sins and bless one till eternity! Symbolically, the chariot here also acts like the mind—where Lord teaches the masses how to be the charioteer of one's mind and know how to direct and control it. Jagannath Rath Yatra's Last Ritual Rath Yatra's last ritual of the sojourn makes the return of the holy chariots of Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath come to its home—at the sanctum sanctorum of Puri Jagannath Temple after a stay in the Mausima Temple. The temple town of Puri is adorned beautifully during this festive time as thousands of devotees turn out to visit the divine abode of the lord and seek the blessings of God Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra.
Hindustan Times
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
President, Guv, CM greet people as Raja festival begins in Odisha
Bhubaneswar, President Droupadi Murmu, Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik on Saturday greeted the people of Odisha as the three-day Raja festival began across the state. The state welcomes the Raja festival every year as a mark of respect for womanhood, fertility, and the rhythms of Mother Earth. This time, the festival reflecting deep-rooted traditions and cultural pride, is observed between June 14 and 16. President Murmu, who hails from Odisha, posted on X: "I am wishing my dear countrymen heartily on the occasion of Raja festival. On the arrival of rainy season, honouring Mother Earth this agrarian festival is observed by eating sweets, playing swings, kabaddi and betel and sweet drinks. This festival is celebrated for three days in Odisha. From this, we should take inspiration from walking in harmony with nature." She also said, "On the occasion of Raja festival, I wish happiness and prosperity for the state and the countrymen." The X handle of Governor Odisha said: "On the occasion of Krishivithik Gana Parv # Raja the Hon'ble Governor Shri @DrHariBabuK has extended his greetings and best wishes and wished that the eternal spirit of this festival may be felt by all. #RajaParba." Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who hails from Keonjhar district, where Raja is a major festival, also wished the people of the state. "Greetings and best wishes to everyone on the auspicious occasion of Gana Parva, a unique tradition of honouring tradition, nature, motherhood and womanhood. May this festival bring joy and happiness to everyone's lives.#Raja #PahiliRaja," he said. Former chief minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik also congratulated the people on the occasion and said: "Heartiest greetings to everyone on the occasion of Odisha's mass festival, Raja. May this unique tradition of paying homage to the land and mother fill everyone's lives with joy and happiness. #RajaParba." The nomenclature of the festival 'Raja' is rooted in the Sanskrit word 'Rajaswala' . Raja marks a symbolic period when Mother Earth is believed to rest and rejuvenate, like women during their menstrual cycle, said Asit Mohanty, a researcher in Odia culture. He said that the festival also witness the beginning of cultivation works which comes coinciding with the onset of the monsoon month 'Asadha'. During the festival, young girls and women rejoice by wearing new clothes, applying henna and alta, playing traditional games, enjoying swings called - 'Raja Doli', and eating festive foods, mostly handmade cakes. Special sweets like Poda Pitha, Arisha, Kakara, and others are prepared at houses and offered to guests, Mohanty said. The festival unfolds in four phases. The first day of the festival is called - 'Pahili Raja' , middle day is 'Raja Sankranti' , first day of Asadha, celebrating seasonal transition and 'Basi Raja' , the last day of the festival. At the end of the festival, the women in houses observe a ritual called 'Basumati Snana' when the mother earth is bathed after her menstruation period, Mohanty said. He said the girls are exempt from household work, and no farming or digging is done, showing reverence to nature's fertility during the three-day Raja festival. Raja festivals are held across the state including state capital of Bhubaneswar.
New Indian Express
05-06-2025
- Climate
- New Indian Express
Be prepared to manage waterlogging: CM Mohan Majhi to officials
BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday raised concern over waterlogging in the state capital and asked officials to remain prepared to deal with such situations during monsoons. Addressing the revenue officers' workshop here, Majhi said, 'It rained so heavily in Old Town area of Bhubaneswar yesterday that the road got damaged and the water couldn't be drained out.' This has happened when Asadha month is yet to begin, the chief minister said, while underlining that there could be urban flooding and damage to infrastructure due to heavy rains during monsoon and SOP should be followed to deal with it effectively. Heavy rain on Tuesday evening caused substantial damage to the Badagada Canal road in Old Town area of the city disrupting connection to the main route. Locals raised strong concern over the matter and also complained about the same to mayor Sulochana Das during her visit to the site. As it is, the CM has already asked BMC authorities to complete the ongoing drainage and desiltation works by June 20. Majhi, who had chaired a high-level meeting with authorities of H&UD department last week, has sought adequate measures to address the problem of waterlogging near Iskcon Temple, Cuttack road, Ahalya Nagar, Ayurveda College and other vulnerable areas of the state capital.
