In Puri, Odisha, a historic Rath Yatra was held where the Trinity- Lord Jagannath and his siblings- were taken out from the 12th century temple to their respective chariots. This event was attended by President Droupadi Murmu, Odisha Governor Raghubar Das, Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, and other prominent figures. However, the joy and celebration were marred by the unfortunate death of a male devotee and injuries sustained by others during the pulling of the chariots. Despite this, the rituals continued with Mangala Alati and Mailama niti, making for an unforgettable and historic festival.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media to extend greetings to the people on the start of the sacred Jagannath Rath Yatra in Odisha. He prayed that the blessings of Lord Jagannath, an avatar of Lord Vishnu, continue to be bestowed upon them. The annual Rath Yatra is one of the most significant festivals in India and is celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion. This year, the event will be held for two days due to specific celestial arrangements.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed BJP workers with chants of "Jai Jagannath" after the party secured a majority in the Odisha assembly and Lok Sabha elections. Modi declared that this will be the first time the land of Lord Jagannath will have a BJP Chief Minister. He also expressed gratitude to the public for voting NDA to a third term in Parliament, as the alliance was set to win 290 seats. The PM also highlighted the party's performance in other states and praised the sacrifices made by BJP workers in Kerala.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has inaugurated the Shree Mandira Parikrama Prakalpa, a heritage corridor project for the Sri Jagannath temple in Puri. This inauguration holds religious and political significance, coming before the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya and ahead of upcoming general and assembly elections. The project, which includes a one kilometre road named 'Sri Marg,' aims to improve facilities for the increasing number of devotees visiting the temple.
Two renowned sand artists in Puri, Sudarshan Patnaik and Manas Kumar Sahu, have created impressive sculptures of Lord Jagannath on the beach to welcome the new year. Patnaik's 25 ft high sculpture showcases the deity's Bada Singhara Besha using flowers, while Sahu's 20 ft high sculpture features a message for a happy new year. The sculptures have attracted a lot of tourists and are a unique way to ring in 2024.