Tripura observes Jagannath Rath Yatra with full devotion

The Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra was celebrated with traditional gaiety and fervour in Tripura on Wednesday.

In state capital Agartala, the main function took place in the Jagannath Temple, where hundreds of thousands of devotees pulled Lord Jagatnath's chariot.

In 1905, Maharaj Radha Kishore Manika had built this Jagatnath temple which is east facing like the famous Jagatnath temple of Puri.

Deities in this temple were also brought from Puri and the festival here started more than 110 years back.

Ashogango Mukhopadhay, a Sanskrit pandit, said. "The occasion of Jagatnath Rath Yatra is enjoyed by everyone and this is being celebrated from long back. In our Puranas and Mantras, he is the core deity who controls our path and mind. Hence, Jagathnath is their within us since eternity."

In Tripura, after Durga Puja, the biggest gathering of people is at the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra. It takes place during the Hindu month of Ashar or Sraban and people from various religions participate here.

It has been taking place here right from the time the royals were in power. Now, inspite of the size of the chariot getting smaller, the participation of the public has increased. People enjoy the festivities associated with the rath yatra.

Jagatnath, which means the keeper of the universe, and he is said to be the incarnation of Lord Krishna.

The annual procession is a symbolizing celebration of Jagannath's weeklong journey from Kurukshetra to Bindraban to visit his maternal aunt's house along with his elder brother Balabhadra and younger sister Subhadra some 5,000 years ago.

In Tripura, set their religious preferences aside and participate in the rath yatra, which they see as a symbol of secularism.

Sumita Banerjee, a devotee, said,"Here we worship Jagatnath, Balaram and their sister Subodhra. This is a beautiful festival and a gathering of all religion as there is no division. Everyone participates here right from old to young and from all religions."

According to Hindu belief, anyone who gets a 'darshan' (or view) of the god and goddess during the rath yatra, is freed from his or her worldly sins and is not born again on earth.