The Hare Krishna Movement (HKM) Guwahati will celebrate the 14th Sri Jagannath Rath Yatra Mahotsav on July 16 with a grand procession and a series of spiritual and cultural programmes in North Guwahati.
The Rath Yatra will commence at 3 pm from the Hare Krishna Mandir in North Guwahati and conclude at the historic Doul Govinda Mandir after covering a distance of nearly eight kilometres. The organisers said the festival is expected to be attended by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, legislators and several other dignitaries.
The celebrations will begin with traditional Vedic rituals, puja and arati of Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladeva and Devi Subhadra before the ceremonial chariot procession sets off.
According to the organisers, the procession will feature a decorated elephant leading the yatra, followed by Nam Sankirtan groups chanting devotional hymns. Students from various educational institutions, members of the Bharat Scouts and Guides, devotees from Guwahati and neighbouring districts, and hundreds of participants are expected to join the procession.
Continuous Harinam Sankirtan and chanting of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra will accompany the procession throughout the route. Volunteers will distribute prasadam, spiritual books and Maha Mantra cards among devotees and the public.
To facilitate the smooth conduct of the event, hundreds of volunteers will be deployed along the route. Refreshments, including fruit juice and khichadi prasadam, will be served at various locations during the procession.
After reaching Doul Govinda Mandir, devotees will be offered dinner mahaprasadam as part of the concluding ceremonies.
Inviting people to participate in the festival, Hare Krishna Movement Guwahati President His Grace Sri Janardhana Prabhu said the Sri Jagannath Rath Yatra symbolises divine mercy, universal brotherhood and spiritual joy. He urged devotees, students, families and members of the public to take part in the celebrations, pull the sacred chariot, chant the holy names and receive the blessings of Lord Jagannath.
