Non-Hindus join Rath Yatra in Orissa Town

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Non-Hindus join Rath Yatra in Orissa town

Kalinga Times, Orissa

 

By Manoj Kar

Paradip (Orissa)

[Edited for brevity]

 

In an exemplary show of communal amity, non-Hindus have

joined hands with Hindu devotees to observe the annual Rath

Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Paradip Port town.

 

[The] Car festival of the Lord got off to a colourful start here on

Monday with religious fervour. The major highlight of the annual

festival is that Muslims and Christians rubbed shoulders with

Hindus to pull the strings of the chariot.

 

The bustling port town lays claim to fame for tolerant religious

practices among adherents of divergent religions. The Rath Yatra

bears testimony to the communal amity prevailing in this region,

quipped Baishnab Mohanty, a trustee member of local Jagannath

temple.

 

" Our mode of observing the Yatra differs from the rest. We

extend red carpet to Muslims and Christians of the port town to

pull the strings of chariot that adorns Lord Jagannath, Lord

Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra. "

 

[....]

 

In fact, the gates of the Jagannath temple have been thrown open

to Muslims and followers of other religions since temple came up

here in early seventies [1972].

 

The 60-foot tall 'Aruna Stambha' (the holy pillar erected near the

temple entry gate for a distant view of God) speaks the story

itself. A concrete arch adorns the top of the pious pillar with the

engraving of holy symbols of major religions like Hinduism,

Islam, Christianity and Sikhism.

 

[....]

 

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