Like every year, this year too, a preparatory meeting was held by the Odia families in the diaspora to organize the holy Rath Yatra of Shri Jagannath Mahaprabhu in a smooth manner at the Buhari Hotel in Dubai last Sunday evening at 5 pm. More than 30 representatives from seven states of the United Arab Emirates attended the meeting and discussed in detail the successful organization of the Rath Yatra.
This year, the Rath Yatra will be organized on July 19th at the Springdales School campus in Al Qusais, Dubai. The organizers have expressed their hope that more than 2,000 devotees will gather for it.
As per the guidance and traditional rules of Puri Shri Gajapati Maharaj, the Nitikanti of Mahaprabhu will start at 7 am. At 10 am, a Pahandi Bij will be held amidst the chanting of Ghant, Ghant, Shankhadhwani, Haribol, Hulhuli and Harinaam Sankirtan. After the chariot is taken out at 11:30 am, the closing ceremony prepared by the women of the institution will be held. After this, Odissi dance will be performed and the rathtana will start from 12 noon.
While the Anand Bazaar is being arranged at 1 pm, Mahaprasad like Chuda Ghasa, Khaja, Anna, Kanika, Mitha Dal, Potal-Aloo Rasa, Shagmug, Ghaant, Mango Khata and Khiri will be prepared for about 2,000 devotees. For this, three experienced chefs from Bhubaneswar’s Patra Catering will go to Dubai to prepare the Mahaprasad. A traditional Bhajan Samaroh will be organized from 2 pm with more than 15 vocalists of the institution. It was informed in the meeting that special arrangements have been made for security, ambulance and medical services in view of the gathering of a large number of devotees.
Finally, the Emirates Odia family urged all the Odia brothers and sisters living in the United Arab Emirates to join the Rath Yatra with their families and seek the blessings of Shri Jagannath and make the festival a success with peace, order and devotion. It was also decided in the meeting that all the Odia diaspora will work together to further expand the propagation and spread of Shri Jagannath culture in the world.
Appreciating the interest among the Odia diaspora in the propagation and spread of Jagannath culture, the Odia Culture Minister, Shri Suryavansi Suraj, through a letter, has conveyed his greetings and best wishes to all the Odia diaspora on the occasion of the holy Ghosh Yatra.
