Members of the Hindu community celebrated Rath Yatra across the country on Thursday amid religious fervour and enthusiasm, commemorating the annual journey of Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra, from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple.
The main journey of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra in three big chariots was brought out by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) from Swamibagh Ashram in Dhaka at 3:00pm.
The procession paraded through Motijheel, Paltan, Jatiya Press Club, Central Shaheed Minar and Jagannath Hall of Dhaka University.
Thousands of devotees, including men, women, boys and girls, congregated the day at their respective pilgrim places as well as witnessed the chariot festival following the yatra.
Rath Yatra was also celebrated in other districts of the country, including Bagerhat and Dinajpur, with colourful processions.
The Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, one of the major festivals of the Hindu community, is also called Gundicha Yatra, Dasavatara and Navadina Yatra.
Every year, the Yatra is observed in the month of Ashar and the reverse Rath Yatra will be held after eight days.
Rath Yatra processions have been historically common in Vishnu-related (Jagannath, Rama, Krishna) traditions in Hinduism in Shiva-related traditions, saints and goddesses with tribal folk religions found in the eastern states of India.
