Bahrain, July 22: The sacred Hera Panchami festival was celebrated with great devotion and spiritual fervour at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Segaiya, Bahrain. The event was jointly organised by the Bahrain Odia Society and ISKCON Bahrain as part of the ongoing rituals associated with Lord Jagannath's annual Rath Yatra.

The celebration followed the grand Rath Yatra held in Manama on July 16 and marked an important episode of the Lord's Adapa Mandapa (Gundicha Temple) stay. In keeping with the centuries-old traditions of the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, rituals such as Snana Yatra, Rath Yatra, and Adapa Mandapa ceremonies are being faithfully observed in Bahrain every year.

This year's Rath Yatra witnessed the participation of nearly 8,000 devotees, reflecting the growing popularity of Jagannath culture among the Indian diaspora and local devotees.

As part of the Hera Panchami celebrations, a devotional drama depicting the divine pastime of Goddess Mahalakshmi, along with bhajans, spiritual discourses, and cultural performances, was presented before devotees.

Dr. Arun Kumar Praharaj, Founder President of the Bahrain Odia Society, said that for the past 30 years, the Bahrain Odia Society and ISKCON Bahrain have been working together to promote Lord Jagannath's traditions and Odisha's rich cultural heritage on foreign soil. He also expressed gratitude to the Kingdom of Bahrain's leadership for fostering an atmosphere of religious freedom and mutual respect for diverse faiths and cultures.

Speaking on the occasion, Mangal Das Prabhu, EXCOM Head of ISKCON Bahrain, reaffirmed ISKCON's deep reverence for Jagannath culture and urged all ISKCON centres across the world to continue observing Snana Yatra and Rath Yatra with the dignity and devotion they deserve.