Over 2,500 Devotees Gather in Kandivali for Annual Jagannath Rath Yatra
More than 2,500 devotees gathered in Kandivali on Sunday to celebrate the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra, pulling a grand chariot carrying the deities from Sapphire Heights to Alica Hall. Despite intermittent monsoon rains, the procession brought together local residents and housing societies, including those along Hanuman Nagar, to participate in the traditional celebrations.
The sacred journey was held under the guidance of Narayani Lakshmi Devi Dasi, a disciple of Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj. The central highlight of the procession was a decorated chariot carrying the deities Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladev, and Subhadra Devi. Devotees accompanied the chariot with continuous kirtan, dancing, and katha shravan as it made its way through the suburban neighborhood.
Housing societies along the route actively coordinated to support the pilgrims. Residents set up makeshift altars, offered bhoga, distributed prasadam, and provided fresh drinking water. From their balconies and street corners, residents showered rose petals onto the chariot and the participants below.
"To see families from various housing societies come together — cooking prasadam, pulling the wooden ropes, and dancing in the rain — shows the true communal spirit of Mumbai," noted one local organiser.
The procession also featured a stop at the historic Naga Baba Shiva Temple, where organisers hosted a grand welcome featuring sheera prasad and dedicated jal seva for all passing pilgrims.
Several prominent local political figures attended the event to seek blessings, including Member of Legislative Assembly Atul Bhatkhalkar, municipal corporator Neelam Gurav, former Member of Parliament Gopal Shetty, and former municipal corporator Surekha Patil.
The festival, which was first initiated in 2015, concluded late in the evening at Alica Hall with a final session of kirtan and the distribution of prasadam to all attendees. Organisers credited the execution of the event to the dedication of a core committee and dozens of volunteers who managed traffic, pulled the chariot, decorated the path, and served food.
"While it is impossible to list every single name, in the eyes of Lord Jagannath, every small act of service is eternally remembered. Becoming a servant of the Lord is considered the highest fortune, and we extend our deepest thanks to every volunteer, resident, and well-wisher who made the 2026 Rath Yatra an unforgettable, spiritually uplifting occasion," said a member of the organising committee.
