Foreign devotees to offer traditional dishes to Lord Jagannath during Rath Yatra

Kolkata: At least 400 devotees from different countries, including Russia and China, would offer traditional vegetarian dishes from their countries to Lord Jagannath during the 46th edition of the Rath Yatra festival organised by the ISKCON here.

The annual journey of Lord Jagannath along with his siblings - Baladev and Subhadra - out of the temple during the month of 'Asad' is known as Rath Yatra.

"There would be nearly 400 devotees from different countries who would offer traditional vegetarian dishes from their respective countries this year," Radharaman Das, the General Manager of ISKCON  Kolkata, told IANS.

"They would also participate in bhajan (devotional singing) and chant the mahanatra, playing traditional Indian instruments every day at the Brigade Parade Ground where the week-long chariot festival would be held," he added.

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is organising this year's Rath Yatra festival in the city with a South Indian touch as they celebrate the 1,000th birth anniversary of philosopher-saint Ramanuj Acharya, the founder of Sri Sampradaya (sect).

Several hundred South Indian devotees are set to attend the festival on June 25 and draw rangoli on the streets of Kolkata at the start of the journey.

Expecting a turnout of more than one lakh people on the occasion, the ISKCON headquarters at Mayapur in West Bengal's Nadia district has constructed a magnificent Gundicha temple at Prabhupada Ghat along the Ganga. 

The deities will be kept there till 'ulta rath' on July 3.

Jagadhartia Das, Public Relations Coordinator of Iskcon Mayapur, said: "Another attraction this year will be "Tulavarnam", wherein the devotees and guests will offer to (Lord) Jagannath items like ghee, fruits, jaggery and other items equal to their own body weight."

According to the organisers, the entry gate of the festival at Brigade Parade Ground would also have South Indian touches.

Besides cultural events and photography contests, the organising committee is also arranging the first ever videography contest during the festival this year that will continue till July 2.