Amidst joyous cries of ‘Hari Bolo’ and ‘Jai Jagannatha’, the auspicious Ratha Yatra of Lord Jagannatha was celebrated on Sunday, 25 June 2023, with great fanfare by Shree Jagannatha Society UK (SJSUK) at Southall, London in the presence of hundreds of ecstatic devotees. As per the Hindu Calendar, a symbolic Ratha Yatra was conducted by SJSUK on the 20th of June. To enable Jagannatha devotees across London and the UK to celebrate this grand journey of the Lord Jagannatha and His divine siblings Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, when the deities travel on their annual trip to the abode of their aunt in Gundicha Mandir, SJSUK organised a majestic festival at The Villiers High School Southall where participants could mingle freely with the deities.
Over 500 devotees of all ages – from as young as 3 years old to those of advanced years in their 80s – thronged the venue, joining in the festivities, chanting the name of the Lord, dancing joyously as bhajans and kirtans were sung, and blissfully pulling the chariot along.
The elaborate rituals and festivities were conducted in accordance with Jagannatha ‘Riti' (age old practices and traditions) practiced by priests from Shri Jagannatha Mandir in Puri, Odisha and as per the ‘Vidhi’ (religious procedures) laid out in Skanda Purana. A newly refurbished resplendent ‘Ratha' (chariot), lovingly hand-constructed, painted and decorated by devotees who volunteered their time and effort over several days of pain-staking effort, was readied to carry the deities, Lord Jagannatha, Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Sudarshana. The Ratha Yatra rituals began with the divine deities adorned with new clothes and bedecked with beautiful flowers and jewellery on their throne in Southall’s Shri Ram Mandir. Thereafter, in a grand ceremonial Pahandi Yatra, rhythmically swaying to the sounds of bells, cymbals and conch shells, the 'Vigraha Murtis' of the Lords were lovingly carried by devotees to Villiers High School.
After the 'Ratha Pratishtha' (consecration of the Chariot) puja, the deities were adorned with elaborate headgear made from flower arrangements. They were then carried to their chariot by a ritual 'Pahandi Bije' procession, with ecstatic devotees swaying and dancing to the beats of cymbals and conches, leaving the gathered onlookers enthralled. The 'Chhera Pahanra' ritual, where the chariot was swept by a ceremonial broom and cleaned, was performed. The chariot was then pulled in ceremonial procession as cymbals and conches rang out in jubilation, cries of ‘Hari Bolo’ rent the air, and devotees sang and danced in blissful worship of the Lord of the Universe, Mahaprabhu Jagannatha. The highlight was the mellifluous bhajans sung with utmost devotion by young children, clearly demonstrating that the rich Jagannatha culture and Indian ethos has taken root in the United Kingdom. Devotees were able to offer Puja to the deities on the chariot, and avail this most rare opportunity to seek His blessings.
The devotees were also treated to delicious 'Chhappan Bhog Prasad' which comprises of 56 special delicacies and included such unique delicacies like 'chhena taadia, poda pitha, khiramohana' etc.
