CM inaugurates Rath Yatra festival of ISKCON temple

Tripura Chief Minister Prof. Dr Manik Saha on Sunday expressed that there is no greater happiness than witnessing a joyous festival celebrated without any incidents and emphasized that everyone will work together to ensure this.

Dr Saha said this while inaugurating the Rath Yatra festival organized by ISKCON in Agartala on Sunday.  “Yesterday, I inaugurated the traditional Rath Yatra at Melaghar, which is being held today. Over 400 stalls were set up, and people from Bangladesh also attended. During the princely regime, when the partition took place, the temple moved to Melaghar. The temple of Lord Jagannath has many stories, and it signifies that on this day, God comes and stays with us. The meaning of Jagannath is 'Lord of the World,'” said Dr Saha.

Dr Saha noted that various religious texts like the Brahma Purana and the Padma Purana mention the history of Ratha Yatra. “The Ratha Yatra of Puri, Odisha, is one of the most renowned Ratha Yatras in the world. I remember visiting the Jagannath Temple in Odisha during an oath-taking ceremony. After Covid, only one door was open, and the day after my return, all the doors were opened. ISKCON celebrates the Ratha Yatra across the world. God is with us, so there is nothing to worry about,” he said.

He also mentioned an unfortunate incident at Kumarghar in the Unakoti District last year, which prompted him to personally speak with all the District Magistrates and District Superintendents of Police through video conferencing this year.

“I provided them with some suggestions, including maintaining the height of the chariot. I instructed them to have ambulances, power department personnel, and personnel from the Tripura Police and Fire and Emergency Services on standby. This has been well-maintained in Melaghar and here too. There is no greater happiness than seeing a joyous festival celebrated without any incident, and everyone will work together to make it happen,” he added.