Jai Jagannath - Divine Car Festival is on

Monday, 11 July 2011 10:14

Written by Staff Repoter

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Jai Jagannath - Divine Car Festival is on Vizag: Rath yatra or car festival is familiar in Puri, where lord Jagannath, Balbhadra and Subhadra enjoys it very much during first week of Ashadham every year. The same process will be implemented and practiced throughout the country on the same days. Idols in Puri will be taken to Gundicha temple, which is two kilometers away from the main temple and lord will have special rituals for the next nine days there only.

In Bay City is also maintains the same tradition for agies. Practicing the tradition of Puri, Idols from Jagannath temple (old city) will be taken to Turner's Choultry and offers rituals to the lord for the next nine days similar to Puri.

Unique speciality of Vizag's festival is lord Jagannath will bless in Dasavaram - incarnations of Lord Vishnu every day. Festival began in city on 3rd of this Month, same as in Puri.

Idols were brought from Jagannath Temple in Main road on a chariot with long procession in which vedic chantings, kolatam, gita slokas chant, bhajans, traditional dances, etc. was inaugurated by Dronamraju Srinivas, MLA (Visakha- South), Malla Vijay Prasad, MLA (Visakha - West), Soumya Mishra, DIG. Chariot brought to Turner's Choultry where the incarnations were decorated for the daily rituals. It become regular practice that the venue is meant for this festival.

The return rath yatra will be on 12 of this month and held in same process. During this process traffic from Choultry to Kotha Road (main road) will be diverted via stadium road on both days. International Society for Krishna Consiousness (ISKCON), Utkal Samaj ( settlers from Orissa ) and Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (Ukkunagaram) authorities also perfoms this festival in city.

Unique speciality
Lord Jagannath blesses the devotees on different incarnations during this ten day festival. On the day one incarnations began with Mastya in which god will appear with fish shaped dress, followed by Kurma avatar in turtle shaped one. Other incarnations are different in display. Decorations are very attractive.

Varahavtar on the third day, followed by Nrusimha and Vamana on the same day, prior to Bhargava Rama on Friday. Devotees in large number blessed by Jagannath in Ramavatar on Saturday followed by Krishnavar on Sunday. Highlight of the festival is Sesha Panpu and Kalki Avatar on Monday, which is final incarnation in this festival.

Return Yatra This car festival will be back on Tuesday with a huge gathering, vedic chants, bhajans and idols will be placed as it is at the Jagannath temple at the main road. Kalyanotsav will be done on 13th, July ie Tuesday and anna prasad or Tadiyaradhana performed on 19 th of this month. Temple authorities have made all the neccessary arrangements for the festival in association with local divine service organisations.

Good business for street vendors
Turner's choultry situated at the busiest junctions in the city, number of street vendors had installed temporary stalls at the venue. Coconuts, bananas, petal leaves, nut powders etc are available for te devotees at the premium cost, premise is under the control of Endowment Depart of the State Government.

Every stall has to pay as per the tariff fixed by the department. Business is poor for the first two days due to heavy rains in the city. This festival is famous in the city, and about five lakh people will witness the festival and organisers have provided all the fecilities including water, prasad, separate queue lines common, and two special queues of which common queue is free of cost, whereas other two are 10 rupees and 25 rupees per each devotee.

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