International Desk : Voice of Calcutta
Dhaka: One of the most significant religious festivals of the Hindu community in Bangladesh—the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath—is set to begin on Thursday, marking the start of a nine-day grand celebration across the country.
The main inauguration ceremony will take place at the ISKCON temple in Swamibagh, Dhaka, where the festival will be formally opened at 3:00 PM. According to organizers, Rath Yatra celebrations will be held at 128 locations nationwide, reflecting its widespread cultural and spiritual significance.
The festival is being organized by ISKCON Bangladesh, which has been hosting the event annually with elaborate arrangements. The celebrations will conclude on July 24 with the return chariot procession, known as Ulto Rath Yatra.
To ensure security and smooth conduct of the festival, the Bangladesh government has taken extensive measures. Members of specialized police units, including SWAT, along with intelligence agencies and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel, will be deployed during the grand procession. ISKCON’s trained volunteer teams will also assist in maintaining order and guiding devotees.
Speaking at a press briefing held at the Swamibagh temple earlier this week, ISKCON Bangladesh General Secretary Bhaktimoy Nitai Swami expressed confidence that the festival would be completed peacefully and successfully. He also noted that after the famous Rath Yatra in Puri, India, the Dhaka celebration is considered one of the largest in the world.
The nine-day festival will feature a wide range of religious and cultural activities, including spiritual discourses, recitations of Lord Jagannath’s pastimes, children’s competitions, devotional music, Vedic drama performances, and distribution of sanctified food (Mahaprasad).
The festivities will begin with a sacred Agnihotra Yajna at 8:00 AM on Thursday, invoking prayers for world peace, human welfare, and relief for those affected by floods and natural disasters. An inaugural discussion session will follow at 1:00 PM.
The event will be inaugurated by Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as the chief guest. Several distinguished guests, including government officials, diplomats, and religious leaders, are expected to attend.
The highlight of the festival—the colorful Rath Yatra procession—will begin at 3:00 PM, featuring three large, modern chariots carrying the deities Lord Jagannath, Baladeva, and Subhadra. Accompanied by chanting and devotional singing by thousands of devotees, the procession will pass through major city roads before concluding at the historic Dhakeshwari National Temple.
The return journey (Ulto Rath Yatra) will commence from Dhakeshwari Temple on July 24 and conclude at the Swamibagh ISKCON temple, marking the end of the celebrations.
Organizers emphasized that ISKCON is a non-political, spiritual organization engaged in both religious and social activities worldwide. They also expressed concern over recent misinformation campaigns targeting the organization, reaffirming their commitment to transparency and peaceful coexistence.
According to ISKCON leaders, such religious and cultural festivals play a vital role in strengthening communal harmony, mutual respect, and national unity in Bangladesh.
From Haralal Ray: Voice of Calcutta
