Rath Yatra festival begins across Bangladesh Thursday

The nine-day Rath Yatra Utsab, one of the most important religious festivals of the Hindu community, will begin across Bangladesh on Thursday with colourful processions, prayers and a series of religious and cultural programmes.
Observed annually on the second day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Ashadha, the festival commemorates the chariot journey of Lord Jagannath, whom followers of Sanatan Dharma revere as the Lord of the Universe.
The main celebrations in the capital will begin at 8am at ISKCON's Swamibagh Temple with an Agnihotra Yajna for world peace and prosperity. A grand Rath Yatra procession will set off from the temple at 3pm and is expected to reach the Dhakeshwari National Temple around 7pm.
The festival will conclude on July 25 with the traditional Ulta Rath Yatra, or return chariot procession, which will begin from Dhakeshwari Temple at 3pm and end at Swamibagh Ashram.
This year's celebrations will be held at 128 ISKCON temples and ashrams across the country, alongside programmes organised by other Hindu temples and organisations.
According to Hindu beliefs, devotees who receive the blessings of Lord Jagannath attain spiritual liberation and freedom from the cycle of rebirth. The Rath Yatra symbolises the deity's journey among devotees and is regarded as one of the most sacred events in the Hindu religious calendar.
The nine-day programme organised by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) includes Harinam Sankirtan, Agnihotra Yajna, Mahaprasad distribution, religious discussions, Padavali and Aarti Kirtan, Bhagavad Katha, recitation of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita, cultural performances, religious film screenings and drama presentations.
The inaugural ceremony will be followed by a discussion meeting, where BNP Secretary General and Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is expected to attend as the chief guest.
ISKCON Bangladesh General Secretary Nitai Swami said the procession will pass through Joykali Temple, Ittefaq Intersection, Shapla Chattar, Dainik Bangla Intersection, Paltan, the Jatiya Press Club, the High Court, Doel Chattar, the Shaheed Minar and Palashi before reaching Dhakeshwari Temple.
He said extensive security arrangements have been made in coordination with the government, the administration and law enforcement agencies.
Police and other security personnel will be deployed throughout the route, while around 500 ISKCON volunteers will assist in maintaining order during the procession.
Besides the main procession in Dhaka, Rath Yatra celebrations will also be held at Shree Shree Jagannath Jeu Thakur Mandir in Tanti Bazar, Ramsita Temple on Joykali Road, Shankhari Bazar Eknam Committee and numerous other temples across the country.