*Governor Shri Ramen Deka participates in the Rath Yatra festival*
*Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai participates in the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath: Performed the ritual of Chherapahra and sought blessings for the people of the state*
Raipur, June 27, 2025 / Governor Shri Ramen Deka and Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai participated in the Rath Yatra festival of Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath organized at Jagannath Temple located in Gayatri Nagar, Raipur today. Governor Shri Deka and Chief Minister Shri Vishnudev Sai performed the puja of Lord Jagannath and performed the ritual of ‘Chhera-Pahra’. The first lady of the state, Smt. Rani Deka Kakoti, performed the puja of Shri Jagannath Ji with rituals.
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai participated in the Rath Yatra organized at Jagannath Temple located in Gayatri Nagar, Raipur today. The Rath Yatra of Mahaprabhu Jagannath Ji was taken out with special rituals at Jagannath Temple located in Gayatri Nagar, Raipur. Before starting the Rath Yatra, the idols of the Lord were brought from the temple to the chariot and the path was cleaned with a golden broom. This tradition is called Chherapahra.
On this occasion, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai, while congratulating all the people of the state on the Rath Yatra, said that this festival is as big a celebration for Odisha, it is equally a big celebration for Chhattisgarh as well. Shri Sai said that Lord Jagannath is the protector of farmers. It is by his grace that rain falls, milk fills the ears of paddy and prosperity comes to the homes of farmers. I pray to Lord Jagannath that there should be abundant crops in Chhattisgarh this year as well. He said that I request Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra to keep their grace on all of us and lead us towards peace, prosperity and happiness.
*Chief Minister performed the ritual of Chherapahra with a golden broom*
This old tradition is performed at Jagannath Temple located in Gayatri Nagar, Raipur, on the lines of the Rath Yatra of Puri. Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai, completing the ritual of Chherapahra, started the Rath Yatra by sweeping the path with a golden broom. After this, he took the idol of Lord Jagannath to the chariot and placed it.
*Rath Yatra is held in Chhattisgarh on the lines of Odisha*
Odisha state is famous in India for Rath Yatra. Due to being a neighboring state of Odisha, this festival also has a wide impact in Chhattisgarh. In the Rath Yatra taken out today, special rituals were performed for Lord Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra. According to the temple priest, this is a symbol of an unbreakable partnership between Utkal culture and Dakshin Kosal culture. It is believed that the original place of Lord Jagannath is the Shivrinarayana pilgrimage of Chhattisgarh, from where he was established in Jagannath Puri. It was in Shivrinarayana that Lord Shri Ram accepted the sweet berries lovingly offered by Mata Shabari in the Treta Yuga. A भव्य temple of Nar-Narayana is established here at present.
On this occasion, Revenue Minister Shri Tankram Verma, MP Shri Brijmohan Agrawal, MLA Shri Purandar Mishra, Shri Dharamlal Kaushik along with other dignitaries and a large number of devotees were present.