Two influential spiritual leaders in India, Sant Kabir and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, are celebrated for their impactful teachings and progressive philosophies. Despite living in different regions and eras, they shared a common mission of promoting religious unity and advocating for social justice. Their emphasis on devotion and ethical living has made a lasting impact on Indian spiritual thought and continues to inspire individuals from all backgrounds.
The grand Rath Yatra festival in Puri saw a surge of enthusiastic devotees as the pulling of chariots of Mahaprabhu Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra resumed on the second day after a brief pause. Despite the halt overnight, devotees flocked to witness the deities on their majestic chariots, displaying their deep devotion and emotions. This unique festival is a nine-day celebration where the deities of Puri Srimandir come out of the temple to give darshan to devotees on Bada Danda.
The annual Jagannath Rath Yatra in Odisha's Puri began on Sunday and top leaders including President Droupadi Murmu, PM Narendra Modi, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee extended their best wishes to the nation on this auspicious occasion. The President prayed for everyone's happiness and prosperity while the PM and Vice President sought blessings from Mahaprabhu Jagannath. The Chief Minister also promised to commence Rath Yatra from the newly built Jagannath Dham in Digha next year.
BJP candidate from Puri Lok Sabha seat, Sambit Patra, has issued a formal apology after receiving backlash for his remarks about Mahaprabhu Jagannath being a devotee of PM Narendra Modi. Patra claimed it was an unintentional mistake made during a crowded and noisy media interaction. He has also decided to observe a fast as a form of repentance. This incident has sparked a political debate, shedding light on the impact of careless statements by politicians during election season.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed a pooja and offered prayers at the Beyt Dwarka Temple, one of the 5 temples in Gujarat signifying the abodes of Lord Krishna. Located on Beyt Island, the temple is believed to be the home of Lord Krishna and is mentioned prominently in Skanda Purana and Mahabharata. In addition to the Dwarkadhish and Keshav Ji temples, there are also other major places of worship such as the Hanuman Dandi and Mahaprabhu Bethak on the island.