In Bangladesh, the Rath Yatra festival concluded yesterday with the ceremonial pulling of the Ulto Rath rope at Dhamrai, Dhaka, and various other locations across the country. The festivities celebrating Lord Jagannath began on July 7, drawing hundreds of devotees to participate in the religious observance. Rath Yatra commences on the second day of the Shuklapaksha of Asharh month in the Hindu calendar and culminates on the 9th day with the return journey known as Ulto Rath.

The day’s events commenced in the morning at the centuries-old temple in Dhamrai and in Dhaka, featuring activities such as Kirtan, discourses, agnihotra, cultural performances, recitations from the Gita, and the distribution of Mahaprasad.

At the historic Dhakeshwari temple in the capital, a vibrant procession carried the idols of Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Balaram, and Subhadra on grand chariots. Prior to the procession, a discourse was conducted at the Dhakeshwari temple. The procession concluded at the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKON) temple in the Swamibagh area.

Several prominent people of Bangladesh including Food Minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder, Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad President JL Bhowmik, among others took part in the programme.