Thousands Join Colourful Rath Yatra Procession

Thousands of Hindu devotees gathered in Bangladesh’s capital on Thursday as the annual Rath Yatra, one of the most significant religious festivals in the Hindu calendar, began with a colourful procession through the streets of Dhaka. Organised by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), the event commenced at around 2:30 pm from the Swamibagh Ashram, drawing large crowds of worshippers, pilgrims and visitors.

The grand procession marks the beginning of a nine-day celebration dedicated to Lord Jagannath. Accompanied by devotional songs, prayers and traditional chanting, devotees joined the ceremonial chariot as it travelled along a designated route through several of the city’s busiest landmarks.

The procession began at Swamibagh Ashram before passing Joy Kali Temple, Ittefaq Mor, Shapla Chattar, Dainik Bangla Mor, Paltan Mor, the National Press Club, the High Court area, Ramna Kali Temple, Doel Square, the Central Shaheed Minar, Jagannath Hall and Palashi Mor. It is scheduled to conclude at the Dhakeshwari National Temple, one of the country’s most important Hindu places of worship.

The day’s religious observances began much earlier. At 8:00 am, organisers held an Agnihotra Yajna, a traditional Vedic fire ritual performed with prayers for global peace, harmony and the welfare of humanity. Later, at 1:30 pm, a discussion meeting was held at the ISKCON temple auditorium in Swamibagh before the official inauguration of the Rath Yatra.

The discussion programme was attended by Local Government Minister and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as the chief guest. The session was chaired by Nitai Swami, General Secretary of ISKCON Bangladesh.

Among those present were the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Hindu, Buddhist, Christian and Ethnic Minority Affairs Bijon Kanti Sarkar; Principal Secretary ABM Abdus Sattar; Hindu Religious Welfare Trust Vice-Chairman Tapan Majumdar; First Secretary of the Indian High Commission in Dhaka Gokul V K; Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad General Secretary Santosh Sharma; Dhaka Metropolitan Sarbajanin Puja Committee General Secretary Tapas Chandra Pal; BNP Assistant Secretary for Religious Affairs Amlendu Das Apu; National Executive Committee member Debashish Roy Madhu; and ISKCON Bangladesh Joint Secretary Gauranga Das.

Authorities said comprehensive security arrangements had been put in place to ensure the festival passed off peacefully. According to Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), patrol units, CCTV surveillance, foot patrols, motorcycle response teams, detectives from the Detective Branch (DB) and traffic police were deployed throughout the procession route. Police maintained a visible presence at key intersections and gathering points to facilitate crowd management and prevent any untoward incidents.

ISKCON also deployed more than 500 volunteers to assist devotees, coordinate the procession and support the overall management of the festival. Volunteers helped guide participants, maintain order around the chariot and provide assistance where needed.

The Rath Yatra festival holds deep religious significance for Hindu devotees, symbolising Lord Jagannath’s ceremonial journey from his temple to visit his devotees. The annual celebration attracts large numbers of participants and is widely regarded as a festival promoting devotion, harmony and communal goodwill.

The nine-day programme will conclude on 24 July with the traditional Ulto Rath Yatra, or return procession. Beginning at 3:00 pm, the chariot will travel back along the same route from the Dhakeshwari National Temple to the Swamibagh Ashram, marking the formal conclusion of this year’s celebrations.