Invited dignitaries, together with several hundred devotees and thousands of onlookers enjoyed darshan of the colourful Rath Yatra celebration organized by BAPS Kolkata.
First, Vedic mantras were recited while pujan of the murtis was performed at the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir on Chakraberia Road.
Second, the ritual of ‘pahandi’ was performed in which the murtis were carefully carried from the mandir and placed onto the various decorated raths outside the mandir.
Third, the ritual of ‘chhera pahara’ was performed in which the path in front of the raths was swept with small brooms by the sadhus and dignitaries before the start of the procession.
The rath yatra then began at 3.00 p.m. from outside the BAPS Mandir. The colourful and joyous procession passed through many of the major streets of Kolkata before returning at 7.10 p.m.
Among the invited guests were Mayor of Kolkata, Shri Shobhan Chattarjee and Central-State Health Minister, Shri Dinesh Trivedi.