Agartala, Jul 07, 2024, TRIPURA TIMES Desk

Agartala, July 07: Agartala city on Sunday witnessed massive gatherings of devotees as the Chariots carrying Lord Jagannath, and his siblings- Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra traversed through the main roads.
In Agartala, the Rath Yatras of ISKCON temple and Jagannath Jeu Temple were the major highlights. Hundreds of devotees from across the state participated in the journey of Lord Jagannath with great enthusiasm and fervor.
Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha inaugurated the ISKCON temple’s Rath Yatra at Purbasha premises in presence of minister Tinku Roy, BJP state president Rajib Bhattacharjee and other dignitaries.
The Rath Yatra festival, celebrated in vibrant colors, showcased the rich heritage and culture, drawing hundreds of devotees to the event in Agartala.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister extended his greetings to the people of the state and prayed to Lord Jagannath for the overall welfare of Tripura.
He expressed that there is no greater happiness than witnessing a joyous festival celebrated without any incidents and emphasized that everyone will work together to ensure this. 
“Yesterday, I inaugurated the traditional Rath Yatra at Melaghar, which is being held today. Over 400 stalls were set up, and people from Bangladesh also attended. During the princely regime, when the partition took place, the temple moved to Melaghar. The temple of Lord Jagannath has many stories, and it signifies that on this day, God comes and stays with us. The meaning of Jagannath is 'Lord of the World,'” said Dr. Saha.
Dr. Saha noted that various religious texts like the Brahma Purana and the Padma Purana mention the history of Ratha Yatra. 
 “The Ratha Yatra of Puri, Odisha, is one of the most renowned Ratha Yatras in the world. I remember visiting the Jagannath Temple in Odisha during an oath-taking ceremony. After Covid, only one door was open, and the day after my return, all the doors were opened. ISKCON celebrates the Ratha Yatra across the world. God is with us, so there is nothing to worry about,” he said.
Along with Agartala, the Rath Yatra was celebrated in all other parts of Tripura with the same enthusiasm and religious fervor. 
The festival gave an opportunity to the people to come together, irrespective of their backgrounds and celebrate their shared faith and cultural identity.