Jagannath temple in Ranchi gears up for Rath Yatra

RANCHI: Preparations for this year’s Jagannath Rath Yatra began on Sunday with the ceremonial 'Snan Yatra Mahotsava' organised at the Jagannath temple in Ranchi. Lord Jagannath will be in exile for the next 15 days from Sunday after being bathed with ashwagandha, rose water, turmeric, kumkum, scented blossoms, ganga water, etc. Along with Him, deities Balabhadra and Subhadra , too, will be in seclusion, in accordance with the age-old tradition.
According to the tradition, it is believed that the Lord Jagannath develops a fever after excessive baths. The idols at the main temple will remain covered and will reappear on June 19 after which the Rath Yatra will take place on June 20.
Sudhanshu Nath Sahdeo, the temple’s trust member, said, “It is believed that the deities are safeguarded and recieve medicinal treatment until the Rath Yatra. Once they are cured, the yatra will be held with great pomp and show.”
The statues of Radhe Krishna are kept in lieu of the original idols for worship by devotees until the Rath Yatra.
The priest said the lord is worshipped in seclusion for 15 days. “The devotees will be allowed to worship Prabhu after the retreat concludes on June 19. It is believed that on this day, his eyes will be donated, and he will be situated in the bathhouse while his aarti is performed. The devotees will be able to venerate God,” he said.
The work on the the 36-foot-tall chariot made of around 300 cubic feet of Sakhua wood will soon be completed.
Last year, the chariot was a replica of Puri’s famous rath.