Thousands Join Jagannath Ratha Yatra Finale
Sriman Venu Dari Prabhu delivered a discourse on the Srimad Bhagavatam, after which mahaprasadam was distributed.
VIJAYAWADA: The three-day Sri Jagannath Ratha Yatra organised by ISKCON Vijayawada concluded on Saturday, with thousands of devotees participating in religious rituals, cultural programmes and community outreach activities at the Gundicha Mandir.
The day's events began with deepa, dhoopa and harati to Lord Jagannath, followed by congregational kirtans and darshan for devotees. Sriman Venu Dari Prabhu delivered a discourse on the Srimad Bhagavatam, after which mahaprasadam was distributed.
Hundreds of women took part in the traditional Sara Samarpana procession in honour of Subhadra Devi from the Vijayeswara Swamy Temple to the Gundicha Mandir. State Women's Commission Chairperson Dr Rayapati Sailaja, Telugu Desam NTR district president Gadde Anuradha, Janaki, wife of a Member of Parliament, and devotional singer Shobha Raju attended the event.
Special darshan resumed in the evening with an offering of 108 traditional flour-based delicacies as naivedyam, followed by Odissi and classical dance performances by artistes from Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Hyderabad. Mahaprasadam was served to around 10,000 devotees.
ISKCON Temple president Sriman Chakradhari Das administered an anti-drug pledge under the 'Jagannath's Call Against Addiction' campaign. Service counters distributed drinking water, spiritual literature, Tulasi saplings and information on ISKCON activities.
Chakradhari Das thanked the police, media, Electricity department, volunteers and devotees for their support in ensuring the successful conduct of the festival.
