Raipur 27 June 2025
Governor Shri Ramen Deka and Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai today participated in the Rath Yatra festival of Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath organized at the Jagannath temple located in Gayatri Nagar Raipur. Governor Shri Deka and Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai performed the ritual of ‘Chhera-Pahara’ by worshiping Lord Jagannath. First Lady of the state Smt. Rani Deka Kakoti worshiped Shri Jagannath ji with due rituals.
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai today participated in the Rath Yatra organized at the Jagannath temple located in Gayatri Nagar of the capital Raipur. The Rath Yatra of Mahaprabhu Jagannath ji was taken out with special rituals at the Jagannath temple located in Gayatri Nagar of Raipur. Before starting the Rath Yatra, the idols of the Lord were brought from the temple to the chariot and the route was cleaned with a golden broom. This tradition is called Chhera Pahara.
On this occasion, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai congratulated all the people of the state on Rath Yatra and said that this festival is as big a festival for Chhattisgarh as it is for Odisha. Shri Sai said that Lord Jagannath is the protector of farmers. It is due to his grace that it rains, paddy ears fill with milk and prosperity comes to the houses of farmers. I pray to Lord Jagannath that Chhattisgarh has a bumper crop this year too. He said that I request Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra to keep their blessings on all of us and lead us towards peace, prosperity and happiness.
The Chief Minister performed the ritual of Chharaphara with a golden broom
This old tradition is performed in the Jagannath temple located in Gayatri Nagar of the capital Raipur on the lines of the Rath Yatra of Puri. Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai completed the ritual of Cherapahara and inaugurated the Rath Yatra by sweeping the road with a golden broom. After this, he took the idol of Lord Jagannath to the chariot and placed it on it.
Rath Yatra is held in Chhattisgarh on the lines of Odisha
Odisha state is famous in India for Rath Yatra. Being a neighbouring state of Odisha, this festival has a wide influence in Chhattisgarh as well. In the Rath Yatra taken out today, Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra were worshipped with special rituals. According to the temple priest, this is a symbol of an unbreakable partnership between Utkal culture and the culture of South Kosal. It is believed that the original place of Lord Jagannath is Shivrinarayan Tirtha of Chhattisgarh, from where he established himself in Jagannath Puri. It was in Shivrinarayan that Lord Shri Ram accepted the sweet berries lovingly offered by Mother Shabari in Treta Yug. At present, a grand temple of Nar-Narayan is established here.
On this occasion, Revenue Minister Shri Tankaram Verma, MP Shri Brijmohan Agarwal, MLA Shri Purandar Mishra, Shri Dharmalal Kaushik along with other dignitaries and a large number of devotees were present.
