Devotees in Hyderabad celebrated Rath Yatra on Sunday by chanting Jai Jagannath as the deities embarked on their divine journey on chariots. Iskcon temples in the city held grand processions, with lanes beautifully decorated with rangoli. The chariot carrying Lord Jagannath, Balarama, and Subhadra paraded through various locations, including Secunderabad ISKCON Temple, Clock Tower, NTR grounds, and Exhibition Ground, accompanied by Vedic hymns sung by priests. Similar rituals were observed at the 130-year-old Sir Jagannath temple in Ramgopalpet.
At the ISKCON Secunderabad, devotees participated in a procession and offered prayers to the deities at Shree Jagannath Swamy. The path before the chariot was cleaned with a golden broom, coconuts were broken, and a special Arati was performed to start the procession. The Shree Jagannath Swamy Ramgopal Trust has been organizing Rath Yatra for 130 years for Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra, mirroring the festivities in Jagannath Puri. Around 5,000 devotees joined this year’s Rath Yatra, according to a trust member.
Ramesh Das, a resident of Secunderabad, shared his experience of being part of the procession for the past 15 years. He mentioned that the rituals in Hyderabad closely resemble those in Puri, Odisha, giving devotees a feeling of being part of the original Rath Yatra.
