City Reverberates with Chants, Hymns and Floral Tributes as Centuries-Old Tradition Continues with Religious Fervour
Published on: July 17, 2026
By: BTNI
Location: Rajnandgaon, India
Rajnandgaon’s 87-year-old Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra, one of the city’s oldest and most revered religious traditions, was taken out with devotion, grandeur and festive enthusiasm on Wednesday, attracting thousands of devotees who gathered to seek the blessings of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra.
The day began with a steady stream of devotees arriving at the Shri Jagannath Temple at Gandhi Chowk, where special rituals, Vedic chanting, prayers and Maha Aarti were performed before the deities were ceremonially placed on the beautifully decorated chariot.
Traditional Rituals Mark the Beginning of the Yatra
The ceremonial installation of the deities on the chariot took place in the presence of Rath Yatra organiser Mahesh Sharma and family, along with Sharda Tiwari, Govind Sharma, Jitendra Mudaliyar, Suryakant Jain, Santosh Hunka, Sharad Tiwari, Dashrath Sharma, Chandu Lohiya, Amit Khandelwal, senior editor Ashok Pandey, Purushottam Tiwari, Radheshyam Gupta, social worker Sundar Bhai, Rajesh Soni, Ashish Sharma, and a large number of devotees and prominent citizens.
Devotees offered prayers for peace, prosperity and the well-being of the state and the city.
Devotional Procession Fills the City with Spiritual Fervour
As the chariot rolled out of the temple premises, chants of “Jai Jagannath”, devotional songs, the rhythmic beats of the mridang and the sound of jhanjh transformed the city into a vibrant centre of devotion.
Men, women, children, youth and senior citizens participated in large numbers, enthusiastically pulling the chariot while singing hymns and offering prayers.
Procession Passed Through Major City Routes
The Rath Yatra commenced from the Shri Jagannath Temple at Gandhi Chowk and passed through Durga Chowk, Bharat Mata Chowk, Tiranga Chowk, Ramadheen Marg, Kamtha Line and Man Mandir Chowk before concluding at the Shri Jagannath Temple in Gol Bazaar.
Along the route, devotees welcomed the procession with floral showers, performed aarti and offered prayers to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra. Arrangements for prasadam and refreshments were also made at several locations for devotees.
Public Representatives Join the Celebration
Among those present during the Rath Yatra were Mayor Madhusudan Yadav, former MP Abhishek Singh, Chhattisgarh Tourism Development Corporation Chairman Neelu Sharma, BJP District President Komal Singh Rajput, District City Congress President Jitendra Mudaliyar, former Mayor Sudesh Deshmukh, senior councillor Shiv Verma, Jainam Baid, Raja Makhija, and Raju Daga.
Religious hymns continued throughout the procession, while residents welcomed the Rath Yatra from their homes, shops and public squares, offering prayers for peace and prosperity.
Historic Tradition Concludes with Maha Aarti
The Rath Yatra concluded at the Shri Jagannath Temple in Gol Bazaar, where special worship, Maha Aarti and distribution of prasadam were organised.
The event was organised with the support of the Sharma family and the temple committee, while the district administration and police ensured security and smooth traffic management throughout the procession.
The nearly nine-decade-old Rath Yatra once again reflected Rajnandgaon’s rich religious traditions, cultural heritage and social harmony, with thousands of devotees participating in the annual celebration.
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