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NDTV
3 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
3 Lakh Visit Jagannath Temple In Digha For Rath Yatra Festival: ISKCON
Digha, West Bengal: An estimated three lakh devotees visited the new Jagannath temple in Digha on the day of Rath Yatra and the preceding day, a senior ISKCON monk said. International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Vice-President Radharaman Das also told PTI that 70,000-1 lakh people are likely to visit the temple every day till the 'Ulto Rath' (return car festival) on July 4. ISKCON is entrusted with the job of performing the rituals and puja of the deities - Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladev and Devi Subhadra - in the Digha temple. "Altogether three lakh pilgrims visited the temple premises on the two days of Netrotsav (the day of the deities getting vision)," Das said on Saturday. Asked about the expected turnout of pilgrims in the coming week till 'Ulto Rath', he said, "We are anticipating 70,000-1 lakh devotees on an average every day." People are visiting the temple and their number has been steady every day despite intermittent rains, the monk said. All rituals are being performed before the deities now stationed at another temple, considered their aunt's place, which is around 750 metres from the main shrine, he said. Around 33 lakh people had visited the temple since its inauguration on April 30, Das said. A Digha Shankarpur Development Authority (DSDA) official said, "The seaside resort has also turned into a religious tourism hub in West Bengal. We expect the turnout to be higher by next year." West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated the temple in Digha in April.
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
First Rath Yatra in Digha draws lakhs to seaside town
Digha: A sea of devotees swamped the road as the wheels of chariots rolled for the maiden Rath Yatra in Digha on Friday. In keeping with the tradition followed for the chariot festival in Puri, chief minister Mamata Banerjee took part in rituals, washed the road where the three chariots were parked, performed aarti with earthen lamps, and swept the path with a gold broom to set off the Rath Yatra from Jagannath Dham. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The rain could not dampen the festive fervour of devotees who started thronging the temple area with umbrellas since 6 am. The priests began the rituals around 9 am and the crowd swelled after 9.30 am, when the chariots decorated with flowers were parked outside the temple. The security in the precincts of the newly constructed Jagannath temple had been tightened since morning, and cops took a slew of measures to ensure smooth pedestrian traffic on barricaded pavements. A high alert was issued throughout Digha. Traffic on 116B National Highway leading from Old Digha to the Jagannath temple was shut. Over 20 police camps were set up, with more than 3,000 personnel deployed to implement the security arrangements monitored by senior officers of Kolkata Police, including DG Rajeev Kumar. Drop gates were also installed on the road leading to the temple. Around 10 am, the three deities boarded the chariots for the 'Pahandi Vijay' ritual. Devotional music played on stereo, and a dance performance by around 40 Iskcon devotees, mostly from abroad, entertained the audience. Around 2 pm, the CM reached the venue along with her cabinet colleagues and state ministers Aroop Biswas, Chandrima Bhattacharya, Sujit Bose, and Indranil Sen. There was a performance by children along with music from Madhab's rock band, after which, flanked by members of Iskcon, the CM set the wheels of the chariots rolling by pulling their ropes individually amid chants of "Jai Jagannath" by thousands of pilgrims, including foreigners. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Radharamn Das, a trustee of Digha Jagannath Dham and vice-president of Iskcon Kolkata, said, "The chariot festival in Digha has been organised following all the rituals of the Puri temple. However, as this is the first time the festival is being held here, the CM was adamant about not compromising on security. Therefore, the general public was not allowed to pull the chariot ropes. Instead, two ropes from the chariot were passed through a barricade, allowing everyone to touch them. " "The CM decided every aspect of this year's festival. Accordingly, Balabhadra's chariot was placed first, followed by Subhadra's. Jagannath's chariot brought up the rear," he said. All devotees and visitors at the temple received prasad on Friday. The district administration are now preparing for Ulto Rath on July 5. "Although the chief minister may not be present here during the return journey of the chariots, there will be no compromise on security," an official said.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Iskcon, Mahesh, Puri... and now Digha: Tolly ponders over problem of plenty
Kolkata: Many in Tollywood visit Puri during Rath Yatra to offer prayers to Lord Jagannath, whom they believe they owe their success in the film industry to. Others join the festivities at Mahesh Rath Yatra in Serampore and the Iskcon Rath Yatra festival. Now, with the Rath Yatra at Digha's Jagannath temple lined up, schedules are being juggled to accommodate a visit there as well. Actor Subhashree Ganguly has been visiting Puri on Rath Yatra for the past decade. "I visit the Puri temple on 'Ulto Rath' and the plans remain the same this year. I have to offer my prayer to the deity in Puri after the success of 'Grihapravesh' and seek blessings for the next venture, 'Lawho Gouranger Naam Re'," said Ganguly. But she is yet to visit the Jagannath temple in Digha. "I have heard a lot of good things about the temple. I am juggling my schedule and plan to go there as soon as I can," she added. On Friday, Ganguly will be in Kolkata for the puja at her residence. For three years, music director and film-maker Indraadip Das Gupta has become a regular at Puri's 'Ulto Rath'. "I will go to Puri on July 5 and return on the 6th. I am keen on going to the Digha temple on Rath Yatra but I have some professional commitments on that day. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo I am wondering how to adjust my schedule," Das Gupta said. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Producer Rana Sarkar has a long connection with Nabadwip. "I owe my success to Lord Jagannath ," Sarkar said. It has been a tradition for him to visit Puri both during Rath Yatra and 'Ulto Rath'. "Most of my friends from Tollywood attend the 'Ulto Rath' festival. Every year, a group of my friends visits Puri on 'Ulto Rath' to witness the ritual of 'raaj besh'. This year, too, I will be going there," Sarkar said. On Friday, he will be attending a puja at his Kolkata home. "Offering my prayers to Lord Jagannath is not location-specific for me. There is no competition between Digha and Puri. Even a small roadside temple of the deity is sacred for me. I plan to visit the Jagannath temple in Digha as soon as possible. Mayapur is equally important for me in this connection. I am associated with Gaudiya Math and have often served as Sarathi of Ratha of Sri Chaitanya Math Rath Yatra in my childhood. But I visit Mayapur on Dol Purnima," Sarkar said.
