Dhaka, June 27 (V7N) — Bangladesh’s Hindu community will celebrate the holy festival of Rath Yatra on Friday. Across the country, devotees will gather for colorful chariot processions, with the main event scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM in Dhaka.
 
Charu Chandra Das Brahmachari, General Secretary of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Bangladesh, revealed that 128 Rath Yatras will take place nationwide. The Dhaka Rath Yatra is the second‑largest in the world. Festivities will commence at 8:00 AM at the Swamibagh Ashram, where a yajna (fire ritual) praying for global peace and prosperity will be held. A discussion session will follow at 1:30 PM, leading into the grand chariot procession at 3:00 PM.
 
The chariot will start from Swamibagh, pass through Ittefaq Mor, Motijheel, Daily Bangla Road, Baitul Mukarram’s north gate, press club frontage, High Court area, and Shaheed Minar, ending at the Dhakeshwari Temple. The “Ulto Rath Yatra”, or return procession, will take place nine days later on July 5, retracing the same route back to Swamibagh Temple.
 
At a Wednesday gathering discussing Friday’s festival, Charu Chandra Das Brahmachari said over 100,000 devotees are expected. “Police and law enforcement have already coordinated arrangements,” he added. Over 500 trained ISKCON volunteers will assist with festival logistics and security.
 
Rath Yatra falls on the second lunar day of the bright fortnight of Ashadha and is one of the most sacred Hindu festivals, originating from the Puri Jagannath Temple in India. It is marked by vibrant chariot processions, speeches, cultural performances, devotional songs, and religious plays. The chariot spectacle remains the festival’s highlight.
 
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