Ranchi, June 27: A sea of devotion swept through Dhurwa in Ranchi on Friday as thousands of devotees thronged the historic Jagannath Temple to witness the grand annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra.
The temple premises began filling up early in the morning, and by noon, the spiritual energy in the air was palpable. The festivities commenced with the ceremonial procession of Lord Garuda’s idol, followed by the grand exit of Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Jagannath from the sanctum sanctorum, amid sacred rituals performed by temple priests.
Amid the reverberation of drums, conch shells and devotional chants of “Jai Jagannath,” the three deities were gracefully placed on a grand chariot stationed about 200 meters from the temple. Thousands of barefoot devotees eagerly participated in pulling the chariot, symbolizing their devotion and spiritual connection to the deities.
The chariot remained stationed for nearly an hour while priests conducted Vedic chants and special rituals. As the Rath Yatra procession began its journey toward Mausi Bari—the deities’ aunt’s abode—the air thundered with chants and traditional music.
Throughout the procession route, numerous service camps offered water, refreshments, and prasad to devotees. On reaching Mausi Bari, the deities were welcomed with elaborate aarti and rituals. The idols will rest there for a week before returning to the temple on July 6.
The event once again showcased Jharkhand’s deep-rooted spiritual traditions and the unshakable faith of its people.
