Royal regalia returns

The 136th Rath Yatra is all set to kick off in royal style, literally! For, the attire to be worn by Lord Jagannath this year has been designed in the Raja Shahi theme, meaning as grand as a king.

Lord Jagannath, sister Subhadra and brother Balram will be wearing glittering ornaments, crown and stone-studded attire for the yatra or the journey to their maternal uncle’s place.

“This year, we wanted to depict the Lord as mighty, strong and kind as a king. Hence, the minutest detail has been taken care of in line with the theme. Naturally, the attire and the ornaments have to be grander this time,” said Dilipdasji Maharaj, the head priest of the temple.

For last year’s yatra, the theme was peacock feather theme, where the Lord’s crown and attire had a tinge of colours in peacock feather depicting a look similar to that of Lord Krishna. The attire to be worn by the Lord on the day of the Rath Yatra was put on display on the temple premises on Saturday morning.

The ornaments were brought from the Saraspur temple of Lord Ranchodji, the maternal uncle of Lord Jagannath. The latter, however, was not present at the temple.

“It is believed that Lord Jagannath visits his maternal uncle for 15 days and return on July 8. The day will be marked by Gruh Pravesh, pooja, recital of mantras and religious flag-hoisting,” said Mahendra Jha, one of the trustees of the Jagannath temple.

While many believe that Lord Jagannath suffers from conjunctivitis after returning home from his maternal uncle’s place, the head priest cleared the myth. “Many say that the Lord relished a lot of mangoes and jaamuns at his maternal uncle’s place, due to which he contracted conjunctivitis. But, in reality, during Jal Yatra, when 108 kalash (vessel) of river water is poured on the Lord, sand particles enter the Lord’s eyes. Owing to the ongoing treatment, the eyes are tied up,” said Dilipdasji Maharaj.