Bhubaneswar: The Odia diaspora in Japan and Australia, along with the broader Indian community as well as the local residents, celebrated the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra over the weekend, with thousands atteding the celebrations.Indo-Japanese bonhomieIn a unique display of bonhomie, Japanese children’s Mikoshi (an ornate, portable Shinto shrine carried during Japanese festivals) joined Indians’ Rath Yatra at Kasugai in Japan’s Aichi prefecture on Sunday. The Rath, designed and built by Norihiro Kawasaki, 84, and Kochi Kawachi, 75, was pulled at the golf field of Fukushi No Sato Rainbow Plaza. ‘Chhera pahanra’ was conducted by Kasugai councillor Masanao Kajita and Odissi guru Gajendra Panda, followed by the chariot pulling.Choudhury Rudra Charan Mohanty, vice-chairman of Kasugai Rath Yatra organising committee, said it is a festival, in which deities leave their temple and travel among people. “Although the two traditions developed in different countries and religious cultures, they share a common spirit: walking together with the divine while praying for peace, happiness and safety of the community,” said Mohanty.A cultural programme was also organised, during which Odissi, Bharatanatyam, Sambalpuri folk dance by a troupe of Odisha, and Daisenji Kagura Hozonkai, a sacred Japanese music, were performed. Around 500 people, including those from UK, Serbia and Nepal among other countries, besides first secretary (education, culture and community welfare), Embassy of India in Japan, Umesh Nautiyal, and vice-governor of Aichi Prefecture Kaoru Kawahara, attended the festivities.2,000 attended Sydney celebrationsOne of the biggest Rath Yatras of Australia was organised by Shree Jagannatha Temple, Sydney (Shree Jagannatha Consciousness ANZ), with support from ORIOZ, on Sunday. It was their second Rath Yatra. The rituals were conducted in accordance with the traditions of Shree Jagannath Dham, Puri, by the priests of the Jagannatha and other Hindu temples across Sydney. The 4.2m-tall and 2.4m-wide chariot, built by volunteers in Sydney itself, rolled through Blacktown Showground.Riverstone MP Warren Kirby too attended the ceremony.The preparations commenced with Ratha Katha Anukula on Shree Panchami on Jan 23, while the ceremonial construction started on Akshaya Tritiya (April 19).Mini chariots at Melbourne yatraIn Melbourne, Jagannatha Sanskruti & Bhakti Association (JSBA) celebrated the Rath Yatra at Keysborough on Sunday, the highlight of which were mini chariots, rolling along with the main chariot. The 4m-tall and 4.5m-wide main chariot, designed to suit Australian conditions and safety requirements, was built by a team of volunteers in the backyard of an Odia diaspora member in Melbourne. Around 800 devotees attended the yatra.Tulika Dash, a JSBA member who got the mini chariots built with the help of a local woodwork association, said she conceptualised the initiative to encourage children to participate in Rath Yatra and help them develop a lifelong connection with the Jagannath tradition. Several mini chariots have also been dispatched to other Australian states.The joy of 10-year-old Romir Mohapatra knew no bounds when he pulled the mini chariot just like his “parents who pulled the main chariot”. I have my own mini rath, he quipped.15th Rath Yatra in CanberraIn Canberra, The Hindu Temple and Cultural Centre in Florey took out its 15th annual Shree Jagannatha Ratha Yatra on Saturday, attended by over 500 people.A cultural programme was also organised on the sidelines.
