 "Puri Rath Yatra 2020: Ram Nath Kovind, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah extend greetings on occasion of Lord Jagannath's chariot festival")
The annual Lord Jagannath Yatra in Puri, Odisha, started on Tuesday. This year the auspicious festival is being celebrated in a subdued manner due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Supreme Court of India on Monday allowed Odisha to hold the nine-day Rath Yatra 2020 festival with certain conditions, including no public participation and imposition of curfew in the city. A report by Financial Express mentions that idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra are moved out of Jagannath Puri temple and were seated on chariots. The chariots are moved by ‘sevayats’ on the ‘Bada Danda’ road in Puri towards the Gundicha Temple. A video shared by news agency ANI showed a huge crowd outside the iconic temple. People were seen participating in the colourful procession as the priests carried the idols.
According to a report by NDTV, Lord Jagannatha is regarded as the supreme god and the sovereign monarch of the Odishan empire. Puri Jagannath temple is known as the land of Lord Jagannath, which means the ‘Lord of the Universe’. President, Vice President, Prime Minister, and several others took to social media to express greetings on Rath Yatra 2020. President of India Ram Nath Kovind extended his greetings on the auspicious occasion of Rath Yatra. “May the Lord bless us with courage and determination in our fight against COVID-19 and bring us good health and joy,” the President wrote. Along with English, the President tweeted his greetings in Hindi and Odiya too.
Greetings to everyone on the auspicious occasion of Rath Yatra, especially to the devotees of Lord Jagannath in Odisha.
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) June 23, 2020
May the Lord bless us with courage and determination in our fight against COVID-19 and bring us good health and joy.
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu also posted a tweet thread where he said that people will have to be content with a modest celebration on Rath Yatra 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “May the pious and noble ideals associated with Rath Yatra enrich our lives with peace and harmony,” Naidu wrote.
I convey my heartiest greetings and good wishes to the people of our country on the auspicious occasion of Rath Yatra.
— Vice-President of India (@VPIndia) June 23, 2020
Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra is the most revered and much awaited festival of Odisha. #RathYatra pic.twitter.com/XPI2j76XDY
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings on the auspicious occasion of Rath Yatra 2020. In his message in Hindi, the PM said he hopes that he wishes that this journey filled with devotion brings happiness, prosperity, good luck and health to the lives of the countrymen. “My heartiest greetings to all on the auspicious occasion of Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra. I wish that this journey filled with devotion brings happiness, prosperity, good luck, and health to the lives of the countrymen. Jai Jagannath!” he wrote.
भगवान जगन्नाथ की रथ यात्रा के पावन-पुनीत अवसर पर आप सभी को मेरी हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं। मेरी कामना है कि श्रद्धा और भक्ति से भरी यह यात्रा देशवासियों के जीवन में सुख, समृद्धि, सौभाग्य और आरोग्य लेकर आए। जय जगन्नाथ!
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 23, 2020
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More ShortsUnion Home Minister Amit Shah also extended his greeting on the chariot festival and said, “I extend my warm greetings to all, on the auspicious occasion of Rath Yatra. May Maha Prabhu Jagannath bless everyone with good health, joy, and prosperity. Jai Jagannath!”
I extend my warm greetings to all, on the auspicious occasion of Rath Yatra. May Maha Prabhu Jagannath bless everyone with good heath, joy and prosperity.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) June 23, 2020
Jai Jagannath!
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik tweeted, “On this occasion, I pray to Lord Jagannath for the happiness, prosperity, and well-being of the people of the state.”
ପବିତ୍ର ରଥଯାତ୍ରା ଉପଲକ୍ଷେ ହାର୍ଦ୍ଦିକ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା ଓ ଅଭିନନ୍ଦନ। ଚତୁର୍ଦ୍ଧାମୂର୍ତ୍ତିଙ୍କ ଅପାର କରୁଣାରୁ ସମଗ୍ର ବିଶ୍ୱ କରୋନା ମୁକ୍ତ ହେଉ। ଏହି ଅବସରରେ ରାଜ୍ୟବାସୀଙ୍କ ସୁଖ, ସମୃଦ୍ଧି ଓ ମଙ୍ଗଳମୟ ଜୀବନ ପାଇଁ ମହାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କ ନିକଟରେ ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା କରୁଛି। #RathaJatra #ରଥଯାତ୍ରା pic.twitter.com/EV5DxOFufl
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) June 23, 2020
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wished everyone on the occasion of Rath Yatra 2020. “May the blessings of Lord Jagannath be showered on all, especially during this disturbing time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jai Jagannath,” Banerjee tweeted.
Greetings to all my brothers and sisters on the occasion of the #RathYatra Festival. May the blessings of Lord Jagannath be showered on all, specially during this disturbing time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Jai Jagannath
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) June 23, 2020
“May Lord Jagannath bless everyone with health, peace, and prosperity,” Indian National Congress (INC) tweeted.
May Lord Jagannath bless everyone with health, peace and prosperity. #RathYatra pic.twitter.com/n96E5rm1wQ
— Congress (@INCIndia) June 23, 2020
Sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik shared a picture of his art that he made at Puri beach in Odisha which showed the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra. He also made a chariot out of the sand.
Jai Jagannath! May Lord Jagannath bless all on the auspicious occasion of #RathYatra .Mahaprabhu bless all with good heath, joy and prosperity.
— Sudarsan Pattnaik (@sudarsansand) June 23, 2020
My SandArt at #Puri beach in Odisha . pic.twitter.com/TZb6N5y7F8
The sand artist also shared a clip of his sand art.
Jai #Jagannath......🙏
— Sudarsan Pattnaik (@sudarsansand) June 23, 2020
Happy #RathYatra2020 My SandArt at #Puri beach . #RathaJatra pic.twitter.com/awJ2OEKOBS
A number of people took to social media to share pictures and videos of Rath Yatra. It showed idols being taking out of the temple and being taken to the chariot.
Happy Rath Yatra 2020
— Somya Ranjan (@soumyaranjan201) June 23, 2020
Lords are on the way!
ଜୟ ଜଗନ୍ନାଥ! pic.twitter.com/u0WFrtSJ5i
May the Lord bless everyone with peace, prosperity and happiness #RathYatra #JaiJagannath @LostTemple7 pic.twitter.com/pEBOn17VFS
— Bharat Temples 🇮🇳 (@BharatTemples_) June 23, 2020
On the auspicious occasion of #RathYatra, praying that Mahaprabhu Jagannath protect us during these difficult times.
— Pranitha Subhash (@pranitasubhash) June 23, 2020
Jai Jagannath! 🙏🏻#RathaJatra #Puri pic.twitter.com/o30uhdmphc
Lord Jagannath on his way to Mausima temple. #JaiJagannath #RathYatra #RathaYatra pic.twitter.com/gBr9yOqvEL
— Rich Odisha (@RichOdisha) June 23, 2020
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