For the devotees thronging from far off places like Dombivili, Kalyan and Palghar this is an opportunity for them to catch a glimpse of their favourite God. “I have never got an opportunity to go to Orissa, so I will in no way give this chance a miss, despite the long hours of commute and the fact that I only have one day weekend I came here,” said 28-year-old, Aadesh Yashwant who came all the way from Palghar. “The sun, pollution and traffic snarls¿ surprisingly nothing is bothering me today. There is a feeling of peace,” he adds, while moving with the crowd chanting ‘Hare Rama, Hare Krishna’.

The sentiment is echoed by 75-year-old Sunderbai Narayan Khare who made it to event despite a bad backache and leg pain. “I really don’t care. I am finally getting to be a part of the Yatra after all these years,” she says with a grin. The yatra does not make any bones about your religion or community and all are free to join. “Even in the Puri’s Yatra, people from all communities can catch a glimpse of the God. Here too we have kept the same spirit and everyone is free to attend,” said Das.

Legend has it that when Lord Krishna left Vrindavan to become the king of Dwarka, many gopis were heart-broken. When they visited Dwarka they saw the Lord in all his opulence and were shy to be anywhere near him. But despite this they took the Lord back with him mentally on a chariot. According to Das the Jagannath Rath Yatra in a way symbolises this legend and perhaps is the inspiration behind the same.

... contd.