Suvendu joins Rath Yatra in Kolkata amid heavy rain; Mahesh draws lakhs of devotees

Kolkata, Jul 16 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday joined devotees in celebrating Rath Yatra in Kolkata amid heavy rain. Dressed in a yellow kurta and white dhoti, Adhikari took part in the Rath Yatra organised by ISKCON at Albert Road, and ceremonially pulled the ropes of the chariot to mark the inauguration of the procession. "I feel proud to be a part of this great festival. I have come here several times earlier and paid my tribute to Prabhupada. This is a great opportunity for me. I pray that good prevails over evil," he said. The CM said the state government has been working with ISKCON in various areas, noting that the organisation would be associated with the midday meal programme in the city and other parts of the state from August 1. Earlier in the day, Adhikari performed the "mangal arati" of the deities at the ISKCON. He is also scheduled to participate in Rath Yatra programmes in Tamluk and Mecheda. Rath Yatra celebrations were being held across the state, including Mahesh and the Jagannath temple in Digha. Devotees from across the state were visiting Mahesh in Hooghly district since morning to participate in the revered Rath Yatra, regarded as one of the oldest in the country. Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the centuries-old festival, which is accompanied by a sprawling fair, expected to draw lakhs of visitors, officials said. Similar scenes were witnessed at the Digha temple, which was built by the previous Mamata Banerjee government, with hundreds of people queuing since morning for a glimpse of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra. Rath Yatras, along with fairs, were also held in Nadia, Bankura and Purulia districts. In Siliguri in north Bengal, thousands of people are expected to join the Rath Yatra organised by ISKCON. The festival also marked the beginning of the Durga Puja preparations, with several community puja organisers performing 'khuti puja', the commencement of pandal construction. PTI SCH BSM SOM