Chariot procession of Lord Jagannath held at Jagannath Dham

By Our Correspondent

Beni, Aug. 8: A Rath Yatra (chariot procession) of Lord Jagannath was held at the popular religious and tourist destination Jagannath Dham in Gajane, Beni Municipality–5, Myagdi.

The procession was organised by the Jagannath Dham Guthi Operation and Management Committee on the occasion of Shrawan Shukla Dwadashi.

On the temple premises, guests of the event, office bearers and members of the Guthi Management Committee, temple priests, participating devotees, residents, and the general public engaged in singing hymns and carried the idol of Lord Jagannath on their shoulders during the chariot procession.

Devotees from not just Myagdi but also from Parbat, Baglung, and Pokhara had come to participate in the procession.

The tradition of organising this chariot procession on the day of Shrawan Shukla Dwadashi every year has continued with the aim of allowing all people to have darshan (a holy glimpse) of Lord Jagannath.

Nil Kantha Sharma, the Chairperson of the Jagannath Dham Guthi Operation and Management Committee, said that during this event, devotees are offered a direct darshan of Lord Jagannath and are also given fresh clothes as part of the tradition.

Sura KC, Mayor of Beni Municipality, said that the municipality is actively working to promote religious tourism in the Jagannath area. He said that efforts are underway to upgrade roads leading to Pulhashram, Jagannath, Dholthan, and other locations.

Arjun Sharma, Chief Administrative Officer of Beni Municipality, said that last year, a photo book was published for the promotion of religious sites within the municipality. 

He further added that the municipality has been supporting the development of monasteries, temples, and other religious sites, including funding for religious rituals and worship.

Govinda Baniya, the Ward Chairperson of Ward No. 5, said that both the ward and the municipality are giving priority to the expansion and upgrading of road networks to reach religious sites.

During the event, Ram Prasad Subedi, representative of CPN-UML Myagdi, Prakash Paudel, Vice President of the Federation of Nepali Journalists, Gandaki Province Committee, Pandit Bhimanath Parajuli, and Rajendra Kumar Shrestha, former Ward Chairperson of Beni Municipality–7, spoke, emphasising the need for proactive efforts to promote religious, historical, and tourist sites, including Jagannath Dham, within the municipality.

Every year on the occasion of Shrawan Shukla Dwadashi, Rath Yatra and a government-sponsored feast are organised at the Jagannath temple. During this event, rice pudding made from 41 pathi (about 164 kilograms) of rice was prepared and served to all the attending devotees and participants.

On this occasion, donors who provided financial support to the Jagannath temple were honoured with shawls and certificates of appreciation.