Himachal Pradesh News
Mandi Comes Alive with Devotion as Annual Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra Draws Hundreds
The historic city of Mandi, popularly known as Chhoti Kashi, came alive with faith and devotion on Thursday evening as the annual Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra was taken out with great religious fervour.
The historic city of Mandi, popularly known as Chhoti Kashi, came alive with faith and devotion on Thursday evening as the annual Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra was taken out with great religious fervour.
The centuries-old tradition witnessed the participation of hundreds of devotees, turning the city into a vibrant centre of spiritual and cultural celebration.
The grand procession began from the historic Jagannath Temple at Paddal, where the beautifully decorated idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra were ceremonially placed on a specially adorned chariot.
As the Rath Yatra moved through the streets of Mandi, devotees pulled the sacred chariot amid chants of “Jai Jagannath”. The atmosphere was filled with devotion as people offered prayers, showered flowers on the chariot and sought the blessings of the deities.
The traditional sounds of dhols, nagaras, narsinghas, karnals and shehnais added to the spiritual atmosphere, making the procession a memorable spectacle for devotees and residents alike.
Women devotees further enhanced the devotional spirit by singing bhajans during the procession. The participation of local deities and representatives of various temples also highlighted Mandi’s deep-rooted religious traditions and rich cultural heritage.
For the people of Mandi, the annual Rath Yatra is not merely a religious procession but a celebration of faith, tradition and community participation. The grand event once again reflected the city’s unique identity as Himachal Pradesh’s “Chhoti Kashi”.
