Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu greets the nation on the eve of Rath Yatra

The Vice President, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has greeted the people on the eve of Rath Yatra. Following is the full text of his message –

“My heartiest greetings and good wishes to all our countrymen on the auspicious occasion of Rath Yatra!

Lord Jagannath’s Puri Rath Yatra is one of the most revered and much awaited festivals for devotees from Odisha and across India. It symbolises our plural and inclusive ethos and holds immense spiritual significance for the participants.

Truly signifying the name of Lord Jagannath – ‘the Lord of Universe’, the Yatra is unparalleled in its splendour and grandeur with magnificent ‘Rathas’ or chariots carrying the deities.

As India and the rest of the world are passing through an unprecedented situation due to Covid-19, I appeal to everyone to celebrate Rath Yatra festival with utmost care by adhering to Covid safety norms.

May the pious and noble ideals associated with Rath Yatra enrich our lives with peace, harmony, health and happiness!”

Following is the Hindi version of the message –

“रथ-यात्रा के पावन अवसर पर सभी देशवासियों को मेरी हार्दिक बधाई एवं शुभकामनाएँ !

ओडिशा के पुरी में भगवान जगन्नाथ की पारंपरिक रथ-यात्रा स्थानीय और सम्पूर्ण भारत के श्रद्धालुओं के लिए बहुप्रतीक्षित भावपूर्ण अवसर होता है। रथ-यात्रा हमारे विविधपूर्ण और समावेशी लोकाचार का प्रतीक है और भगवान जगन्नाथ के भक्तों के लिए इसका गहरा आध्यात्मिक महत्व है।

भगवान जगन्नाथ, बलराम जी तथा सुभद्रा जी के भव्य रथ, अखिल ब्रह्मांड में ईश्वरीय दिव्यता के प्रतीक हैं।

इस वर्ष भी भारत और शेष विश्व कोविड-19 के कारण एक अभूतपूर्व स्थिति का सामना कर रहा है, इसलिए मैं सभी नागरिकों से यह अपील करता हूँ कि वे कोविड सुरक्षा के लिए निर्धारित मानदंडों का पालन करते हुए रथयात्रा उत्सव को अत्यंत सावधानीपूर्वक मनाएँ।

रथयात्रा के पवित्र और महान आदर्श, हमारे जीवन को शांति, सद्भाव, स्वास्थ्य और खुशी से समृद्ध करें !”