Rath Yatra at Sarupathar

A Correspondent

Sarupathar, July 14: The 141st Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath commenced in Sarupathar as in other parts of the country on Saturday. There was much enthusiasm among the devotees as they took part in the nine-day Rath Yatra festival.

The Rath Yatra involves a public procession with chariots with deities of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra (his brother) and Subhadra (his sister). Mythology says Lord Jagannath is a reincarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is derived from two words jagatand nath, which means ‘lord of the universe’. It is believed that anyone who gets to pull their carts on the way is bestowed with the benediction of washing away all the sins they may have committed in their previous birth. Amidst tight security, more than 500 devotees flocked along the 15-km route in Sarupathar to catch a glimpse of the deities.