By Our Correspondent
RAIPUR/BHUBANESWAR: The Holy Wheel of Lord Jagannath’s Chariot Nandighosh, used during Rath Yatra last year received a rousing reception at Chhattisgarh’s Capital Raipur recently.
The Wheel was extended a Grand welcome, the moment it reached at the premises of largest Jagannath Temple of Chhattisgarh at Gayatri Nagar by the Founder of the Temple, President of Shri Jagannath Seva Samiti and lone Odia MLA in Chhattisgarh representing Raipur City North Constituency Purandar Mishra. Shri Mishra informed that this is for the first time Wheel of the Chariot of Lord of the Universe has come to Raipur.
A special Puja was performed before three Deities, Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra stationed on the elegantly and aesthetically decked up chariot parked in front of the Temple.
The scenic wheel was mounted by servitors on the side wall of the chariot. Members of Shri Jagannath Seva Samiti and hundreds of devotees assembled during the auspicious occasion had a glimpse of the pious Wheel. The distinguished dignitaries present include the main host Purandar Mishra, Guruji Sadan Tiwari, BJP leaders Sanjay Srivastava, Vishnu Mahanand, Rohit Sahu, Sima Santosh Sahu, Sunil Kukreja, Ajay Dewta, Sourabh Mishra and Arpit Suryabanshi. Later on the Chariot carrying the Wheel was sent off on a tour around the nook and corner of the city.
The entire atmosphere got reverberated with the recitals of hymns, roaring of slogans like Haribol and Jai Jagannath, sounding of Huluhuli, blowing of conch and playing of musical instruments such as Ghanta, Kartala, Mardala, Jhanja, Dholak and Mrudanga by the devotees accompanying the Chariot. At the first leg Purandar Mishra led the colourful procession initiated from the temple compound.
Dipped in a festive like mood, the thousands of devotees standing at roadside were seen becoming emotional at the sheer sight of Wheel .They offered prayers to Sibling Deities on their majestic sojourn in the streets of Raipur.
The chariot is scheduled to visit the Ram Temple, Governor House, Chief Minister’s residence and jail during the first phase of its yatra from 11th to 21st February. Starting from 22nd February in the second round of its royal journey, the wheel will cover Mahasamund in Chhattisgarh and Raj Khariar Road, Kumna and Bargarh areas in Odisha.
Devotees, who throng Puri in Odisha during the annual Rath Yatra to have a glimpse of the Lords on the chariots, strongly believe that one gets releave from all the sin and attain salvation by touching the wheels. “As all devotees cannot get a chance to touch the wheel because of heavy rush, ‘Chaka Bhramana Karyakram’ has been launched to provide solemn opportunity to lakhs of people of Chhattisgrah and Odisha to earn divine blessings by touching the Wheel “, Purandar Mishra observed.
