The important Hindu festival of Rath Yatra was celebrated with great fanfare at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Brisbane on 10 July, 2016 in presence of PuParamchintan Swami and PuPriyachintan Swami.
Rath Yatra is a festival suffused with devotional sentiments for the Lord. For thousands of years, Hindus have celebrated this spectacular festival. Gathering together, they earnestly pray to the Lord to steer the chariots of their lives on the path of devotion and faith.
The sabha in Brisbane Mandir started with Dhun, Prarthana, Kirtan and discourses from PuParamchintan Swami and PuPriyachintan swami.
Based on the ancient tradition of parading the murtis of the Lord in decorated chariots at Jaggannathpuri, towards the end of the assembly, three decorated raths, one bearing the murti of Harikrishna Maharaj, one bearing the murtis of Jaggannathji, Baldevji and Subadhraji and one bearing the murti of Pramukh Swami Maharaj were pulled by the BAPS Mahila and Balika Mandal, Brisbane.
The community leaders like Palani Thewar -FICQ president, Umesh Chandra –publisher of BIT, Surendra Prasadji and Tristane Crisante from Department of Social Services attended joined the celebration along with around 950 devotees.
The sabha concluded with Arti and Mahaprasad.