W Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari performs 'Chhera Pahanra' ritual; tugs chariot rope to mark start of 55th ISKCON Rath Yatra
Kolkata, July 16
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday marked the beginning of the 55th annual Rath Yatra of the ISKCON in Kolkata by performing the sacred 'Chhera Pahanra' ritual and tugging the ceremonial rope of Lord Jagannath's chariot.
The Chief Minister arrived at the ISKCON Temple on Albert Road, where he first performed a soulful 'aarti' of Radha Madhav. He then performed 'Chhera Pahanra'-the traditional ritual of sweeping the path of the chariot with a golden broom-before joining hundreds of devotees to pull the rope tied to the chariot, symbolising the start of the Lord's journey.
"Srila Prabhupada played a significant role in globalising the Rath Yatra and Indian cultural heritage across over 100 countries... I feel blessed as both a nationalist and a Sanatani, to be starting this Yatra in Kolkata, awaited by thousands of devotees, and performing the aarti of Radha Madhav... Srila Prabhupada's house in Kolkata should be declared as a heritage site," Adhikari told ANI.
The Chief Minister also lauded the socio-economic contributions of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), saying, " ISKCON contributes majorly to health, education, and nutrition... we will work with them."
The Jagannath Rath Yatra, one of India's biggest and most revered religious festivals, is celebrated every year in Puri, Odisha. During the festival, Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra, is taken in grand chariots from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple. Lakhs of devotees gather to pull the towering chariots, believing it brings divine blessings and spiritual merit.
This year's Rath Yatra - the 149th Rath Yatra - began on July 16, and the nine-day festival will conclude with the Bahuda Yatra on July 24. The deities are scheduled to ceremonially re-enter the Jagannath Temple on July 27.
— ANI
Reader Comments
It's good that the Chief Minister is participating in cultural events, but I hope equal attention is given to other festivals too. Still, ISKCON does great work — my family has benefited from their food distribution programs. Happy Rath Yatra to all!
Amazing to see the Rath Yatra tradition continuing strong! Prabhupada's legacy is truly global. I visited the Puri Rath Yatra last year — the energy there is indescribable. Hope the Kolkata one brings similar blessings. Haribol! 🙌
While I appreciate the cultural significance, I wish our leaders would also focus on pressing issues like unemployment and infrastructure during such events. But it's good to see religious harmony being promoted. Hope the Yatra brings peace to all.
The declaration of Prabhupada's house as a heritage site is a great idea! He put Indian culture on the world map. And seeing our Chief Minister personally pulling the chariot rope shows real devotion. This is what Sanatan Dharma is all about — participation, not just politics. 🌺
My grandparents used to tell me stories about the Puri Rath Yatra. Seeing it expand to Kolkata is beautiful. But I wish the article mentioned the environmental impact — lakhs of people, plastic waste, noise pollution. Maybe ISKCON can promote eco-friendly celebrations too. Just a thought.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.