Lord Jagannath’s chariot festival held in Toronto

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Deities are taken on chariot

Toronto, July 7 (Odisha.in) The annual Ratha Yatra and Bahuda Yatra (return festival) was held on June 27 and July 5 respectively in Canada’s Toronto city with hundreds of devotees pulling the chariot of three deities.

This was the second year of the festival initiated by the Toronto Jagannath Temple Trust in collaboration with Bharata Sevashram Sangha (BBS) of Toronto, Hindu Sabaha of Brampton and Sant Gyaneshwar Mandir of Brampton.

Gundicha was celebrated on June 27 and Bahuda on July 5.  The pahandi bije or ceremonial procession of the deities started on June 27 at about 2PM from the BSS temple, the deities’ current abode.

The pahandi was done by Harihar Behera with the Swami Pushkarananda ji and Swami Dibyanandaji of BSS and Swami Bhaktimarga ji of ISKCON Toronto.

The 3 deities of Lord Balabhadra, Maa Subhadra and Lord Jagannath with Sudahshan were brought from the Bharat Sevashram Sangha (BSS) on to the Chariot at about 3 PM amid the Harekrishna naam chanted by the kirtanmandali and the bhaktas.

The chariot was taken from the BSS campus to Sant Gayaneshwar Temple. After a brief rest and reception by the Sant Gayaneshwar Temple devotees the Ratha was pulled to Hindusabha Temple.

The distance of about 5 kms was completed by about 6PM. At Hindusabha the deities were taken in grandeur and amid enthusiastic chanting by the devotees. The deities remained in Hindusabha until Bahuda.

Lunch was served at BSS before the Jatra and Dinner was provided at Hindu Sabha to all the devotees. Prasad , water, juice were also being distributed all along the way.

Similarly Bahuda was celebrated on July 5 commencing at Hindusabha at about PM and followed the reverse route via Sant Gayaneshwar Temple to BSS. Lunch was served at Hindu Sabha and dinner was provided at BSS.

Members of different Indian communities and the Caribbean Indian community took active part to make this celebration a successful one. Oriyas of Greater Toronto area in Canada are very happy with the support from different communities making the event a truly Hindu celebration.

Odisha.in

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