|| The Auspicious Moment : An Attempt On Ratha Yatra || written By Kunal Roy

‘THE AUSPICIOUS MOMENT’ : AN ATTEMPT ON RATHA YATRA

Just a couple of hours ago, the God has descended on the mortal globe to shower His grace on the poor mortals! Yes He is Jagganath, the preserver of the cosmos! But He is not alone. His brother Balaram and sister Shubhadra are also there to accompany him on His divine odyssey! We are really enthralled to witness the spirit of the surging crowd as it has moved ahead to celebrate the auspicious moment with a dash of elan!
Moreover, the magnificent arrangement has also been made to add an extra dimension to the festive mood! Once again the kids are seen dragging the small, wooden chariots on the open street to spread the radiance of divine glory! Besides, the Ratha Yatra fair is indeed a bonanza for those who like to visit fairs. People from different walks of life have visited the Mela, purchased articles, enjoyed rides and of course there is a sense of unity amid diversity!
Ratha Yatra, though a Hindu festival , aims to unite people from other socio- religious backgrounds and here lies the true essence of the festival. A couple of years ago in a reputed English newspaper it was stated that nearly 23 lakhs of people congregated at Puri on this occasion and the religious fervour was really something to be appreciated in the accepted sense of term. And hopefully the history is going to be repetitive once more! So it is the time for celebration and celebration only, no matter whether the rain gods are going to play a spoilt sport or not!