Rath Yatra begins with sacred Netradan ritual

The annual Rath Yatra festivities at the Jagannathpur Temple formally commenced on Wednesday with the sacred Netradan (Netrotsav) Mahotsav, during which Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra stepped out from their 15-day seclusion to give the first darshan to devotees ahead of the grand chariot festival on Thursday.

The Netradan ritual marks the ceremonial painting of the deities’ eyes after the Anasara (15-day) period, symbolising their return in a rejuvenated form before they step out for the grand annual Rath Yatra.

Thousands of devotees gathered at the temple to witness the first glimpse of the deities after their fortnight-long seclusion following the ritual. During the ceremony, the deities were adorned with new attire and special ornaments.

Preparations for Thursday’s Rath Yatra have reached the final stage, with the district administration and the temple committee putting arrangements in place for the smooth conduct of the festival.

The idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra will be ceremonially placed on their chariots and taken in a grand procession from Jagannathpur Temple to Mausibari amid traditional rituals and devotional chants.

Security has been intensified across the temple premises and the fair area. The district administration has deployed police personnel, magistrates, and surveillance teams, while watchtowers, CCTV cameras, barricades, ambulance services, fire safety units, drinking water facilities, mobile toilets, and an uninterrupted power supply have been arranged to manage the large influx of devotees.

Sudhanshu Nath Sahado, a member of the Jagannathpur Temple Trust, said, “This temple brings different communities together, as various groups share the duties of running the temple and its rituals for generations. It also holds a special place in history.”

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