Ratha Yatra (Chariot Festival) observed in 64 Districts
Ratha Yatra is one of the biggest festivals of Hindu community in Bangladesh. The Ratha Yatra festival is celebrated across the country of Bangladesh with great pomp, through the initiative of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Ratha Yatra is a celebration where the Lord distributes His causeless mercy freely to one and all. In the Skanda Purana it is stated, “Lord Jagannath Himself comes out of the temple to the street to give special attention to those who could not go to the Lord’s temple for want of time, good luck and devotion.
At the time of His visit to the Gundicha temple, Lord Jagannath distributes His mercy to those who see Him. Whoever sees the chariot of Lord Jagannath or even hears the chanting of the holy name for a moment is blessed with endless mercy.” Therefore Ratha Yatra is called ‘The Festival of Mercy’. Ratha Yatra was initially taking place in Sri Jagannath Dham – the Lord’s residing place of Puri – and also in some parts of India. Now, by the mercy of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), the whole world has been celebrating the Ratha Yatra festival from the year 1976 onwards.
On Ratha Yatra, ISKCON organizes various ceremonies and colorful processions all over Bangladesh. This year, 116 Ratha Yatra festivals were organized in 64 districts of Bangladesh, with a large number of people participating in each place. Ratha Yatra festivals are observed in many divisional and district cities like Dhaka, Sylhet, Chittagong, Khulna, Barishal, Rangapur and Rajshahi. On these events His Holiness Bhakti Asraya Vaishnava Swami Maharaja, HH Bhakti Nityananda Swami Maharaja, His Holiness Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Swami Maharaja,
His Holiness Bhakti Priyam Gadadhar Swami Maharaja, His Holiness Bhakti Advaita Navadvip Swami Maharaja, His Holiness Bhakti Binaya Swami Maharaja, His Grace Venudhari Das, His Grace Krishna Kirtan Das Brahmachari, His Grace Charu Chandra Das Brahmachari, His Grace Jagatguru Gauranga Das Brahmachari, His Grace Sukhi Sushil Das Brahmachari – all these Sannyasis and senior Vaisnavas delivered their relishable speeches glorifying Lord Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra Devi.
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