President, PM, Guv and CM wish people on occasion of Rath Yatra

RESIDENT Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the people of the country on the occasion of Rath Yatra on Friday and prayed for happiness, peace and prosperity in everyone's life.

- PBD BUREAU/PTI

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra is the "combination of faith and belief, which is based on devotion and culture".

Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Mjahi also offered best wishes to the people of the state on the occasion of the Rath Yatra.

As part of the festival, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath are set to begin their nine-day sojourn to their aunt's place at Gundicha Temple in Odisha's Puri.

"On the occasion of the sacred Rath Yatra, I extend my heartfelt greetings to the devotees of Lord Jagannath residing in India and abroad. By witnessing Lord Balabhadra, Lord Shri Jagannath, Goddess Subhadra, and Chakraraj Sudarshan on the chariot, millions of devotees experi-ence divine bliss," the President said on X.

She also said the "human-like divine play of the deities is the speciality of the Rath Yatra".

"On this auspicious occasion, my prayer to the Lord is that peace, friendship, and harmony prevail throughout the world,” Murmu said.

PM Modi also offered greetings to the people on the occasion and posted a picture on social media in which he is seen standing in front of the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri.