Gurugram: The third annual Shree Jagannatha Rath Jatra festival was celebrated with immense joy and spiritual fervor at the Sai Ka Aangan temple in Gurugram. The sacred event commenced in the morning with the ritualistic installation of the deities onto the majestic chariot, followed by the completion of all traditional temple rites.
In the afternoon, amidst a large gathering of devotees blowing conch shells, beating cymbals, and chanting the name of Lord Jagannatha, the deities ascended the chariot. Renowned spiritual thinker and Shree Jagannatha culture researcher, Guruji Dr. Chandrabhanu Satpathy, performed the sacred Chera Pahanra ritual, which involves the ceremonial sweeping of the chariot, in a deeply devotional atmosphere.
Union Minister Tribal Affairs Shri Jual Oram visited the temple pavilion to receive the blessings of the deities and offer his prayers. Several high-ranking officials also participated in the event and pulled the chariot, including Union Parliamentary Affairs Secretary Shri Nikunja Bihari Dhal, Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) Shri Ajay Singhal, and Additional Chief Secretary of the Government of Bihar, Shri Arvind Kumar Choudhary.
The pulling of the chariot was managed by retired Vice Chief of Army, Shri Chandi Prasad Mohanty and the retired Director General of the Border Security Force (BSF), Shri Arun Kumar.
The pulling of the chariot began at around 3:00 PM, drawing hundreds of devotees from the local region as well as neighboring states like Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab. The festival also attracted people from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Bihar, alongside international devotees traveling from the United States, Dubai, and London. Furthermore, a large number of followers from various districts of Odisha arrived to witness the grand celebrations.
The festival served as a vibrant platform to showcase the rich art and culture of Odisha through various cultural performances. In the evening, the traditional Mahaprasad, prepared by authentic cooks from Puri, was served to all the gathered devotees.
Organized under the inspiration and guidance of Guruji Dr. Satpathy, the Gurugram Rath Jatra has been held since 2024. Dr. Satpathy, who has led a global spiritual movement for over three decades, first initiated a similar Rath Jatra at the Malviya Nagar Sai Temple in New Delhi back in 2009.
His efforts subsequently expanded international celebrations to Ohio in the United States and Nigeria in 2011, followed by London in 2012. In just three years, the Gurugram celebration has evolved into a highly anticipated annual spiritual festival, fostering a sense of unity and universal brotherhood among people of all castes, creeds, and cultures.
The event was successfully coordinated by the CB Satpathy Cultural Foundation and the Sai Ka Aangan management committee, with the core objective of generating awareness about Odisha’s heritage and the profound philosophy of Shree Jagannatha culture among local residents and visitors.