Dhaka: Members of the Hindu community have celebrated Ratha Yatra of Jagannath Dev with due religious fervor and gaiety. The festival commemorates the annual journey of Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra, from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the festival begins on Dwitiya Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Aashar, as per the Hindu calendar, and will conclude with the Ulto Ratha Yatra (reverse journey) on July 5. Different religious bodies and temples have organized various programs in observance of the festival.
In Dhaka, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) planned a nine-day event. The country's oldest and most traditional Ratha Yatra festival was held at Dhamrai in Dhaka district. A colorful procession began at 3 pm from Swamibagh temple in the capital.
Devotees pulled the ropes of the chariots (Ratha) from Swamibagh Ashram to Dhakeshwari National Temple, passing through key locations such as Jaikali Temple intersection, Ittefaq crossing, Motijheel Shapla Chattar, Gulistan, Jatiya Press Club, High Court crossing, Central Shaheed Minar, Jagannath Hall, and Palashi Crossing.
Participants in the procession wore colorful traditional dresses, and a significant number of devotees joined, attracting many onlookers. Devotional songs played over loudspeakers, with devotees singing and playing musical instruments. Additionally, many devotees joined the procession in decorated trucks.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) implemented special security measures for the festival. The Ulto Ratha Yatra (reverse journey) will be celebrated on July 5, following the same route to bring the chariot back from Dhakeshwari temple to Swamibagh.
The Ratha Yatra of Puri in India is recognized as the oldest and largest Hindu chariot festival, celebrated annually during the bright half of the lunar month of Ashar in the Bengali calendar year.