Varied aartis, hot air balloon light up the mood for Jagannath Rath Yatra

The city wore a festive look today as a tableau depicting the life of Lord Krishna was taken out on the Ferozepur Road to welcome the Jagannath Rath Yatra. Organised by Bhagwan Jagannath Rath Yatra Mahotsav Committee with the active coordination of the district and police administration, the yatra started around 4 pm from Sri Durga Mata Mandir near the Jagraon Bridge. Rangoli donned the Ferozepur Road with colorful lights setting the perfect ambience for festivity. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and editor of a vernacular daily Avinash Chopra were present on the occasion.

One of the main attractions of today’s yatra were 15 types of special aarti stalls set up by different organisations. Sunder Dass Dhamija, director, Rath Yatra, said, “We have arranged a 70-feet high hot air balloon from Delhi. It will be installed in the grounds of Government College for Women.”

Mehtab Singh who is helping his father M P Singh in managing the huge balloon said, “We decorated the balloon with the slogans related to Lord Jagannath and have installed a basket under the balloon to make way for VIP rides. The balloon has a circumference of 250 feet.”

Amidst the chantings of Sanskrit shalokas, the yatra proceeded on the designed route with devotees pushing the chariot of Lord Jagananth, Subhadra and Baldev. After passing through the Fountain Chowk and Ghumar Mandi, it reached the Aarti Chowk.

Fire works and religious songs made the whole atmosphere divine with more than 300 stalls satiating the hunger pangs of the tired devotees.