To mark 250 years of tradition
Mail News Service
Saraikela, May 25: This year’s Rath Yatra in Haribhanja village of Seraikela-Kharsawan district will be special, as Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath, along with elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, will ride to the Gundicha Temple (Masibari) on a newly constructed chariot on June 27.
The construction of the new six-wheeled chariot is in its final stages. Artisans from Odisha are building it with full rituals, having commenced work on Akshaya Tritiya. The wood for the chariot has been specially procured from the Chaibasa depot, and only fresh timber is being used. Once completed, the chariot will be adorned with paintings, deity carvings, and a beautifully designed dome, which will be covered with cloth sourced from Puri.
The Mahasnan Yatra (Holy Bath Festival) of Lord Jagannath will be observed on June 11, where 108 urns of water will be used for the ceremonial bathing of the deities — Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra, and Sudarshan. This will be followed by Netrotsav and Nava Yauvan Darshan rituals after 15 days.
According to village landlord Vidya Vinod Singhdev, the Rath Yatra in Haribhanja has been celebrated for over 250 years. He mentioned that his ancestors built the Jagannath temple in the 17th century and began worship traditions that continue to this day. The Chaturthi idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra, and Sudarshan are worshipped year-round.
With the new chariot and traditional rituals, this year’s Rath Yatra promises to be a memorable and spiritually significant event for the devotees of Haribhanja and surrounding areas.
