Puri: Lakhs of people from across the country and even outside descended in Puri today to witness and take part in the annual Rath Yatra of the Srimandir Trinity. Enthusiasm and excitement coupled with religious fervour ran high throughout the day and reached zenith when Lord Jagannath accompanied by his brother Lord Balabhadra and sister Goddess Subhandra set out on their nine-day sojourn at the SriGundija temple, located around 2.5 km from the Srimandir.
Himanshu Guru and Soyong of Orissa POST interacted with some devotees to unravel what drew them to Puri on the occasion as well as to learn about their experiences.
Jagannath Priya Subhadra Devdasi (Russia): I have come all the way from Russia to witness the grand Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath and his siblings. I believe God is omnipresent and He cannot live only in Puri. I am great devotee of Kalia. I visited many countries during the Rath Yatra. This is first time I came to Puri. I don’t find any difference in the Rath Yatra here except that the crowd is much more than in any other place. I also find Kalia is looking at me as he always looks at me in every place.
Banayotsna Sahoo (Puri): It’s the Lord’s wish that I married a man from Puri. Basically I am from Baripada and I always wanted to witness the Lord’s. Unfortunately, I couldn’t, as we were staying far from Puri. Eventually, the Lord listened to my prayers and I am married and settled in Puri now. This year I came to witness his Yatra with my husband and in-laws.
Ambika (A native of Colombia now residing in Brindaban): I am more a devotee and less a dancer. I have come for the fifth time during Rath Yatra now. I took dikshya seven years ago and then permanently shifted to Brindaban. I am a Krishna devotee but not from ISKON. I am a video filmmaker by profession and make videos on cleanliness and awareness.
ShriKrushna Meher (Sambalpur): I visit the Rath Yatra every year dressed as the monkey God Hanuman and roams in front of the chariots. I also perform short skits to enchant the audience. Hanuman is our family’s ista devata. I came here for the first time in 2010 to witness the Car festival. During that visit I saw a person was acting as Hanuman. He was very thirsty and fainted. I rushed to bring some water. After he regained composure, he blessed me and proposed to me that I should don the role of Hanuman. Since then I have been coming during Rath Yatra to perform.
Jagabandhu Mahalik (Anandapur in Kendujhar district): I enact the role of Shree Krishna on Rath Yatra every year. Ten years back I had come for Bol Bum and found an opportunity to perform in Puri. There someone suggested me to visit Rath Yatra here every year. I am an artiste and can dance to bhajans like Re Kanha na Ja Yamuna kula Radha rupa mu dekhibi. I also perform at other festivals.
