Margao will host its fourth Jagannath Rath Yatra on Thursday, July 16, with the annual chariot procession organised by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Margao in association with the Directorate of Art and Culture, Government of Goa, and Hari Mandir, Margao.
The procession is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. from the New Hari Mandir at Pajifond. According to the organisers, PWD Minister Digamber Kamat will flag off the procession in the presence of Goa BJP President Damu Naik, Navelim MLA Ulhas Tuenkar and other invited guests.
Thousands of devotees are expected to take part in the procession, which will carry the deities of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra through the streets of Margao. Devotees will also have the opportunity to pull the ceremonial chariot.
The route will begin at the New Hari Mandir in Pajifond before passing through New Market, Municipal Square and the Margao Post Office area, returning to the Hari Mandir temple premises.
Hari Mandir Temple President Suhas Kamat said the Rath Yatra has become an anticipated annual event in Margao since it was first organised by the ISKCON Margao Centre.
“The Margao Jagannath Rath Yatra is being held for the last three consecutive years by ISKCON Margao Centre and is now eagerly awaited by devotees and the people of Goa,” he said.
Kamat added that such festivals help strengthen the cultural and devotional fabric of society while promoting Goa as a destination for spiritual and cultural tourism.
His Grace Suhrdh Madhav Prabhu, a member of ISKCON Margao, said the centre near Borkar Hospital in Comba conducts regular programmes based on the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita every Friday and Saturday evening.
“Special emphasis is laid on guiding the youth towards India’s rich Hindu traditions, values and cultural heritage,” he said.
He added that each programme concludes with the distribution of free sanctified prasadam to all attendees, irrespective of caste, creed or religion.
Besides the procession, this year’s celebrations will include congregational chanting, devotional music, cultural performances and free distribution of prasadam.
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