Saints, pilgrims and tourists take part in Lord Jagannath rath yatra
Tribune News Service
Haridwar , July 19
Saints, spiritual gurus, local people, pilgrims and tourists in a large number participated in the Lord Jagannath rath yatra here. The rath yatra commenced from Shri Guru Mandal Ashram here yesterday with a tableaux being one of the major attractions of the royal procession. Belwala ashram spiritual guru Acharya Swami Gauri Shankar Das flagged off the rath yatra that passed through inner city lanes of the Shiv Moorti square, and the Tulsi square, among others.
Maha Mandaleshwar Swami Hari Chetnanand Maharaj said it was due to the blessings of God that Shri Guru Mandal Ashram had been holding the royal rath yatra for the past 37 years. “By having the darshan of Lord Jagannath, deities Bal Bhadra and Subadhra one becomes spiritually blessed as it erases difficulties in one’s life,” said Swami Gauri Shankar Das.
He added that late Brahmaleen Swami Ram Swarup Vedanta Arya of the Guru Mandal Ashram had expanded the Jagannath rath yatra. He said devotees, who dedicate their time and efforts to God, get the blessing of both Lord Vishnu and Goddess Laxmi. Dr Shyam Sundar Das Shastri and Mahamandaleshwar Swami Kapil Muni Maharaj lauded the works of Bhagwan Jagannath Rath Yatra Mahotsava Samiti. Mahant Mahendra Singh, Mahant Mohan Das Ramayani, Mahant Heera Das, Mahant Darshan Singh, Mahant Raghuvir Das, and Mahant Vishnu Das took part in the rath yatra.
