Hooghly (West Bengal) [India], July 24 (ANI): West Bengal Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Sumana Sarkar on Friday said it was a matter of pride that Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari was visiting Guptipara in Hooghly district to witness the traditional Ulta Rath Yatra celebrations, describing it as the first such visit by a Chief Minister.
“Such a unique festival is not celebrated anywhere in India; it is celebrated only in Guptipara, under the Balagarh Assembly constituency of Hooghly district. And for the first time in Bengal’s history, a Chief Minister is coming to witness this unique tradition of Guptipara. It is a matter of pride for us that the state’s Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari, and Finance Minister, Dr Swapan Das Gupta, are participating in this grand event,” Sarkar said.
She said the festival, celebrated only in Guptipara, holds a unique place in the state’s cultural traditions.
On Thursday, the 286-year-old traditional ‘Bhandar Loot’ ritual was held at Guptipara ahead of Ulta Rath Yatra, with a large number of devotees rushing into the temple storehouse to symbolically collect and “loot” earthen pots of sacred food offerings (bhog).
Meanwhile, BJP West Bengal, in a post on X, said, “On the auspicious occasion of Ulta Rath Yatra, extending heartiest greetings and best wishes to all. May Lord Jagannath bestow His divine grace, peace, and good health upon every home. Jai Jagannath!”
Earlier, during a meeting, financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each was handed over to the Mahesh Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra Committee, the Balagarh Guptipara Rath Yatra Committee and the Chandannagar Rath Operation Committee.
The administration said the grants were aimed at ensuring the smooth, safe and efficient management of the festival and maintaining security along the procession routes.
Emphasising the need for coordinated efforts, District Magistrate Khurshid Ali Qadri urged organisers and volunteers to prioritise safety and preparedness during the festival. (ANI)
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