PNS
Lohardaga
Thousands of devotees participated in the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra across Lohardaga district on Thursday, turning towns and villages into vibrant centres of faith and celebration. The main procession began from the historic Shri Shri 1008 Jagannath Mahaprabhu Thakurbari Temple in Gudri Bazaar, where elaborate rituals, special prayers and aarti were performed by prominent seers and temple priests before the deities were ceremonially placed on the chariot. The procession passed through Mahavir Temple and East Gola Road before reaching the traditional Mausi Bari temple. Similar Rath Yatras were organised from Jagannath temples at Tetartar and Tiwari Dura in Lohardaga town, with devotees lining the streets to seek blessings as the decorated chariots moved through major intersections. Large gatherings were also witnessed in Bhandra, Senha, Korambe and Hanhat (Kairo block), where centuries-old Rath Yatra traditions were observed with religious fervour. In Bhandra, the procession started from Thakurbari near the police station and concluded at Akhileshwar Dham’s Mausi Bari, while the adjoining fair attracted thousands of visitors. At Korambe and Senha, devotees from remote villages assembled in large numbers to offer prayers and witness the beautifully adorned deities. Traditional fairs organised alongside the processions became a major attraction, especially for children, who enjoyed sweets, toys and local attractions. The district administration made extensive security arrangements to ensure the peaceful conduct of the festival. Acting on the directions of Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Kumar Meena and Superintendent of Police Sadiq Anwar Rizvi, police personnel and magistrates were deployed at key locations across urban and rural areas. Senior police officers continuously monitored the security arrangements throughout the day. As a precautionary measure, power supply was temporarily suspended along the procession routes. The celebrations concluded peacefully, with no untoward incidents reported till late evening. The Rath Yatra transformed Lohardaga into a sea of devotion, reaffirming the district’s rich cultural and religious heritage.
