3 days ago
Indian community celebrates Rath Yatra with colour and devotion
A cultural parade organised by BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha New Zealand in Avondale.
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Hundreds of members of the Indian community marked Rath Yatra with vibrant celebrations in cities and towns across New Zealand.
The annual Hindu festival, which originated in the coastal city of Puri in Odisha State, celebrates the journey of deities Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra.
Also known as the Festival of Chariots, it traditionally features a decorated chariot pulled by devotees in a symbolic procession of unity and blessings.
In Auckland, celebrations were led by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha New Zealand and the New Zealand Odia Society.
The annual Hindu festival, which originated in the coastal city of Puri in Odisha State, celebrates the journey of deities Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra.
Photo:
Supplied
The largest gathering took place at the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Avondale, where more than 500 people took part in the chariot procession and cultural parade.
"The weather was not on our side this year, but hundreds still turned up," said Sidd Doshi, one of the organisers.
"Our tradition is to take the deities out among the people," Doshi said.
"On this special day, instead of remaining in the temple, they are placed on chariots and taken through the streets to bless the community."
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha also held celebrations in Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Rotorua, with smaller events in Whangarei, Napier, Nelson and Dunedin.
The New Zealand Odia Society hosted events in both Wellington and Auckland.
In Wellington, celebrations took place at Redwood School on 29 June and featured Odissi dance performances and other cultural programmes.
Rath Yatra celebrations in Henderson, Auckland, organised by the New Zealand Odia Society.
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In Auckland, the event was held at Sriram Mandir in Henderson and began with a puja of a handcrafted chariot, built by members of the organisation.
The highlight of the day was a musical drama adaptation of Patent Medicine, an iconic play by renowned Odia writer Fakir Mohan Senapati.
"This year, the Ratha was adorned with the sacred Patitapaban Bana flag, sourced directly from Puri," the NZ Odia Society said in a statement.
"The programme included Odissi dances, a soulful chorus by adults, group performances and an instrumental ensemble performed entirely by children," the statement said.
"The music was choreographed by Basant Madhur, founder of the Sargam School of Music."
