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Rath Yatra celebrated at Wayne Hindu Temple
Rath Yatra is a Hindu chariot festival where several deities are paraded on wooden chariots.
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Staff Reporter - Fri, 25, Jul 2025
- 15:33 EDT
- 23
Rath Yatra celebrated at the Temple, drawing hundreds of participants / Courtesy - Jayesh Patel
The India Cultural Society of New Jersey, in association with Tri-State Odia Devotees of the USA, hosted the 18th annual Jagannath Rath Yatra last month at the Hindu Temple in Wayne.
The celebration drew thousands of devotees to witness the journey of the Chaturdha Murti: Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Lord Sudarshan, aboard a wooden chariot.
The event commenced with a yagna led by priests Sastri Anilbhai Joshi and Pitambar Sarangi. Temple dignitaries including Sarat Dash, Jayesh Patel, Dhiren Das, Akhil Patel, Kaushik Patel, Prabhas Panigrahi, and Arvind Bhatt actively participated in the rituals. Bhajans by Bijoy Das and kirtans by devotees filled the temple with spiritual fervor.
Key traditions like Pahandi (procession of deities), Chhera Panhara (ceremonial sweeping) and the pulling of the chariot were observed. Volunteers prepared and served maha prasad and chhapan bhog to the deities.
Devotees gather around the wooden chariot / Courtesy - Jayesh Patel
The Bahuda Yatra, or return journey, was held earlier this month. Highlights included a cultural showcase of bhajans, dance ensembles, and Odia delicacies. The deities returned to Ratna Mandap after Laxmi Darshan, halting en route for Poda Pitha offerings.
Devotees concluded the celebration with the divine Suna Vesa Darshan and Maha Aarati, marking the end of the festival.
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