Odisha Guv, CM, Patnaik greet people on occasion of Rath Yatra

Puri, Jul 16 (PTI) Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi greeted the people on the occasion of Rath Yatra on Thursday and prayed for happiness, peace and prosperity in everyone's life. BJD president and former chief minister Naveen Patnaik also wished the people on the occasion of the annual chariot festival. The governor prayed for strengthening unity, equality, brotherhood, and humanity among the people. “May the divine Rath Yatra of Lord Sri Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra further strengthen the great sentiments of faith, unity, equality, brotherhood, and humanity among us all. Through the boundless grace of the Lord, may happiness, peace, and prosperity prevail in everyone's life. On this sacred occasion, my prayers to the Lord for the well-being of all. Jai Jagannath," he said in a message. Majhi, who has been camping at Puri for the last two days and monitoring preparations, wished for the state's progress. “Greetings to all on the occasion of Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, who is the crown jewel of crores of Odias. May the boundless grace and blessings of the Great Lord Shri Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Mother Subhadra boost happiness, peace, prosperity, and let the progress continue uninterrupted in the state," the CM said. The chariots of Lord Jagannath and his two siblings will roll on Grand Road in Puri as nearly two lakh devotees have already reached the seaside pilgrim town to celebrate the annual Rath Yatra despite heavy rains, The chief minister also said, "May every Odia’s life be filled with auspiciousness; and with the all-round development of the state, may everyone’s welfare be ensured - I pray at the holy lotus feet of the four idols. Jai Jagannath." In a video message, Patnaik said, “Heartfelt greetings and congratulations on the sacred Rath Yatra. May Lord Jagannath's blessings fill everyone's lives with happiness, peace, and prosperity. Jai Jagannath.” Special arrangements have been made to drain out rainwater from the Grand Road in Puri and facilitate a smooth procession, as devotees will pull the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra along the thoroughfare from the 12th-century shrine to the Shree Gundicha temple, around 2.6 km away. Devotees will begin pulling the chariots at 4 pm after the traditional chariot sweeping by Puri's titular king Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb and Puri Shankaracharya Swami Nischalananda Saraswati's visit, a temple official said. PTI AAM AAM BDC