AGARTALA, July 2 (TIWN): Keeping eyes on the upcoming traditional festival of ‘Ratha Yatra’ which has been scheduled to begin on July 18, Agartala Jaganath Temple is undergoing full-fledged preparation. The preparation includes painting of the statues, cleaning of the temple premises and decoration of the chariot. As a part of the programme, Dharma Shobha will be conducted from July 21 to July 25 and every evening Maha Prasad will be distributed to the devotees.

Similarly, a preparation-meet has been conducted with the initiatives of the Melaghar Municipal Council in the conference hall of Melaghar Municipal Council to accomplish the festival successfully and peacefully at the temple premises.

The ‘Fera Ratha Yatra’ will be observed on July 28.

During the meeting, it has been decided that several cultural programmes will be held over there, where eminent artists of the state will perform on every evening. This would help to make the festival more attractive and memorable for the visitors including the devotees.

However, as day by day the rush of the devotees have been increasing, so to ensure the convenient movement of the devotees, the roads and the premises of the Jagannath temple will be renovated soon which will function the smooth movement of the pedestrians and the vehicles

Water drainage system will also be developed in the temple premises area, including the roads and office building region. Besides, the concern authority will also make arrangement of the drinking water facility.

For safety conduct of the fair, police and traffic will be deployed to look after the smooth conduct of the festival.

However, to avoid any kind of natural disaster or any fire incident, necessary initiatives will also be taken by the concerned authorities. Besides, it has been decided to deploy NCC, Scouts and volunteers to keep check over the rushed crowd at the temple premises.

Three drop gates will be installed at the Melaghar Motor Stand, Panchapandab Choumuhani and AOC Choumuhani to control the throng of devotees during the fair and ceremonial worship.

To ensure better service to the devotees, an organizing committee and five sub-committees have also been made.  

The meet was presided over by Chairperson of the Melaghar Municipal Council Anima Mallabarman. Vice-Chairperson of the Melaghar Municipal Council Rakesh Das, Former Chairman of Melaghar Panchayat Samiti Suresh Das and officials of different departments were present during the meet.

To mark the festival, ‘Ratha Yatra’, a vast number of devotees gathered in the temple premises right from the morning. After a day-long patience, finally when the Maha Ratha starts the journey the devotees rushe to see Lord Balaram, Lord Jagannath and Lord Suvadra.

Thousands of devotees throng to the city streets across the route, amid of tight securities right from early morning to witness the Ratha Yatra.

On the occasion, all the devotees prayed for peace, prosperity and rains to the Lords.

The ceremonial procession of the deities known as "Pahandi" - carrying the deities on chariots out of the temple - started from temple.