Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai participated in the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath

Rath Yatra was celebrated with great pomp in Chhattisgarh’s capital Raipur on Sunday. Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai participated in the Rath Yatra organized at the Jagannath temple located in Gayatri Nagar of the capital Raipur. Rath Yatra was taken out with a special ritual at the Jagannath temple located in Gayatri Nagar of Raipur. Before starting the Rath Yatra, the idol of the Lord was brought to the chariot and the path was also cleaned with a golden broom. This ritual is called Chhera Pahara ritual.

On this occasion, Chief Minister Shri Vishnudev Sai congratulated all the people of the state on the occasion of Rath Yatra and said that this festival is as big a festival for Chhattisgarh as it is for Odisha. Mahaprabhu Jagannath is as dear to the people of Chhattisgarh as he is to the people of Odisha, and whatever grace he bestowed on Chhattisgarh, he bestowed the same grace on Odisha.

Shri Sai said that Lord Jagannath is the protector of farmers. It is by his grace that it rains. It is by his grace that the paddy ears are filled with milk. And it is by his grace that prosperity comes to the farmers’ homes. I pray to Lord Jagannath that this year too Chhattisgarh has a bumper crop. He said that I pray to Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra that they keep their blessings on all of us and lead us towards peace, prosperity and happiness.

The Chief Minister performed the ritual of Chharaphara with a golden broom

An old tradition is observed in the Gayatri temple of Raipur on the lines of the Jagannath Rath Yatra of Puri. Chief Minister Shri Vishnudev Sai started the Rath Yatra by completing the ritual of Chharapahra and sweeping the chariot with a golden broom. After this, Chief Minister Shri Vishnudev Sai took the idol of Lord Jagannath to the chariot.

Rath Yatra is held in Chhattisgarh on the lines of Odisha

The state of Odisha is known in India for Rath Yatra. Being a neighboring state of Odisha, it has a great influence in Chhattisgarh as well. In today’s Rath Yatra, Lord Jagannath, brother Balram and sister Subhadra were worshipped in a special way. According to the priest of the Jagannath Temple, this is an unbreakable partnership between the Utkal culture and the culture of South Kosal. It is believed that the original place of Lord Jagannath is Shivrinarayan-Teerth of Chhattisgarh, from where he went to Jagannathpuri and established himself. It was in Shivrinarayan that Lord Shri Ram accepted the sweet berries from Mata Shabari in Treta Yuga. At present, a temple of Nar-Narayan is established here.