JagannathRathYatra arrives at the Suva Ashram

JagannathRathYatra stopped over at the Suva Ashram for a special Arti. The three days Jagannath Puja and RathYatra was organised by Shree Sat SanghRamayanMandali in Lami at Fiji Sevashram Sangha’s Assistant Secretary Akhilesh Prasad’s residence from 16th to the 18th July. The program included Jagannathkatha and JagannathLeela (drama on Lord Jagannath). The RathYatra started from Lami and then on foot from Shiva temple in Samabula. On its way to Sai Mandir in Toorak the rathyatra stopped at the Suva ashram where a special aarti was performed by Shri Virshkh Lal and Shrimati Nirmala Lal.

 Smt. Nirmala Lal (left) and  Smt. Bhagwati Narsey offering prayer to Bhagwan jagannath

 Special Administrator of Suva City Council, Shri Chandu Umaria offering aarti to Bhagwan Jagannath

 Miss Rhea A. Prasad carrying kalash at Rath Yatra.

Devotees carrying Bhagwan Jagannath Rath

The annual rathyatra celebration is a special occasion when where Lord Jagannath, Lord Balarama and Mata Subhadra are taken for a ride on the ratha (chariot). "Jagannath" is a Sanskrit word which means " Lord of the Universe." The RathYatra is celebrated every year on the 2nd day of Shukla Paksha (waxing cycle of moon) in the month of Asadh, the 3rd month according to the lunar calendar. The special icon of Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladeva and Mata Subhadra was carved and decorated wooden stump with large round eyes and with stumps as hands. It is made of wood, which is an exception to common Hindu iconographic deities of stone.

Report compiled by: Akhilesh Niranjan Prasad (Asst. Secretary Fiji Sevashram Sangha)

- Manhar Narsey