In Varanasi's temple city of Kashi, Lord Jagannath has fully recovered after being unwell for the past several days. He was treated with a special herbal decoction for 15 days, and as soon as he recovered, he set out on a city tour with his sister Subhadra and brother Balbhadra. For this outing, known among devotees as 'Man Pher', the deity was seated in a special palanquin and taken around the city. According to belief, Lord Jagannath tours the city every year on a fixed date and arrives at his in-laws' house, and it is from there that the Rath Yatra traditionally begins.
Palanquin procession moves through the city to chants and drumbeats
On Wednesday, the palanquin procession of Lord Jagannath set out from the Jagannath Temple located at Assi. The sound of the damru and chants of "Jai Jagannath" filled the atmosphere with devotion throughout the procession. A large number of devotees carrying flags joined the yatra. Devotees welcomed the palanquin procession at several points along the route and showered flowers on the deity. A special aarti was also performed for the Lord at the Dwarkadhish Temple during the procession.
A 224-year-old tradition
Govind Sharma, a devotee who took part in the palanquin yatra, said the tradition has been observed in Kashi for 224 years. He said devotees wait all year for this procession, and those who get the chance to carry the Lord's palanquin on their shoulders consider themselves extremely fortunate.
Three days on the chariot ahead
After the palanquin yatra, the Rath Yatra fair will begin in Varanasi from Thursday. For three days, Lord Jagannath will be seated on a chariot along with his sister Subhadra and brother Balbhadra to give darshan to devotees. These are the only three days in the entire year when the deity steps out of the temple's sanctum sanctorum and stays among devotees on the streets, giving them a chance to have darshan up close.
Counted among the grand fairs, khaja offered for the first time
The festive season in Varanasi is considered to begin with this Rath Yatra fair. Kashi's Rath Yatra fair is counted among the region's grand "lakkha" fairs, meaning lakhs of devotees arrive here over these three days for darshan of the deity. Devotees lovingly offer tulsi and nankhatai as bhog to the Lord. This year, in a first for the fair, khaja will also be offered as bhog to the deity, following the tradition observed at Jagannath Puri. The khaja has been specially prepared by a couple from Jhansi.
