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Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta participated in the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra at the Jagannath Temple in Rohini Sector-24, Delhi, on Thursday, joining devotees in the annual religious procession.
The event witnessed the participation of a large number of devotees and public representatives, with Delhi Minister Ravinder Indraj Singh and North West Delhi BJP MP Yogender Chandolia also attending the celebrations. Speaking on the occasion, Delhi Minister Ravinder Indraj Singh said the Chief Minister's presence at the event reflected her commitment to participating in religious and cultural programmes across the national capital and highlighted the growing scale of the Rath Yatra celebrations in Rohini. "It is a matter of great fortune for us that the Chief Minister of Delhi has visited the Jagannath Temple in Sector 24 today. On this day, there is no difference to be seen between Puri and Delhi...This reflects the beauty of our culture and Sanatan traditions. The grandeur witnessed here in Sector 24 grows year by year. Furthermore, the Chief Minister's vision of a 'Developed Delhi' includes attending even the smallest of events; her visit here speaks volumes about her personal warmth and reverence for our Sanatan heritage. It is truly a privilege for us that Lord Jagannath, who resides in Puri, is also present here in Delhi," Singh said. Meanwhile, BJP MP Yogender Chandolia said that the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra had grown beyond a regional festival to become a nationwide celebration, with devotees across the country participating in the festivities. Chandolia asserted that, "Today, Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra is no longer just a festival of Odisha; it has become a celebration observed across all states of the country. It is a festival for Hindus, and at the Lord Jagannath temple in Puri, lakhs of devotees are offering their prayers with deep reverence today. The Rath Yatra is organised in such an orderly manner that witnessing it reaffirms the enduring presence of Sanatan culture in our country." "Rath Yatras are also being held at various other Lord Jagannath temples, with local communities participating enthusiastically. As the Member of Parliament for this area, I extend my best wishes to the residents of my constituency on the occasion of the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra. It was our privilege to have the Chief Minister of Delhi, Rekha Gupta ji, grace this event," he added. The Jagannath Rath Yatra, one of India's biggest and most revered religious festivals, is celebrated every year in Puri, Odisha. During the festival, Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra, is taken in grand chariots from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple. Lakhs of devotees gather to pull the towering chariots, believing it brings divine blessings and spiritual merit. This year's Rath Yatra - the 149th Rath Yatra - began on July 16, and the nine-day festival will conclude with the Bahuda Yatra on July 24. The deities are scheduled to ceremonially re-enter the Jagannath Temple on July 27.(ANI)
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