Nine-day Ratha Yatra festival begins today

A nine-day Ratha Yatra, the chariot festival of Sri Jagannath Dev which is one of the major festivals of the Hindu community, will begin today (Saturday), reports BSS.
According to Hindu calendar, the festival begins on Dwitiya Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Aashar.
The festival will come to an end with Ulto Ratha Yatra (reverse journey) on July 15.
In observance of the festival, different religious bodies and temple committees have drawn up various programmes.
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKON) has chalked out a nine-day programme in the city.
The country's largest Ratha Yatra festival will be held at Dhamrai in Manikganj district.
The programmes of the festival will begin in the morning with rendering of Harisangkirtan, holding of Agnihotra Jagna seeking world peace and people's welfare, recitation of verses from Srimat Bhagabat Geeta, distribution of mohaprosad, discussion, rendition of padaboli kirtan and arati, cultural function, staging of religious drama and screening of religious films.
The programmes of the ISKON at Swamibag in Dhaka will start today (Sunday) morning with holding of Agnihotra Jagna seeking divine blessings for world peace and people's welfare.
A discussion will be organised there at 1:30pm.