Kolkata, July 16: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday inaugurated the 55th annual ISKCON Rath Yatra in Kolkata by performing the sacred 'Chhera Pahanra ritual and pulling the ceremonial rope of Lord Jagannath's chariot.

The Chief Minister visited the ISKCON Temple on Albert Road, where he first offered prayers and performed the aarti of Radha Madhav. He then carried out the traditional'Chhera Pahanra'ceremony, symbolically sweeping the path of the chariot with a golden broom, before joining hundreds of devotees in pulling the chariot rope to mark the commencement of the grand procession.

Speaking on the occasion, Adhikari highlighted the global impact of ISKCON founder Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in spreading the Rath Yatra tradition and Indian spiritual heritage across more than 100 countries.

"I feel blessed as both a nationalist and a Sanatani to inaugurate this Rath Yatra in Kolkata and perform the aarti of Radha Madhav. Srila Prabhupada played a significant role in taking India's cultural heritage to the world, and his ancestral house in Kolkata should be declared a heritage site," he said.

The Chief Minister also praised ISKCON's contributions to society, particularly in the fields of healthcare, education and nutrition, and assured the organisation of the state government's support in its welfare initiatives.

The Jagannath Rath Yatra, one of India's most revered religious festivals, commemorates the annual journey of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra from the Jagannath Temple to the Gundicha Temple in Puri, Odisha. The festival draws millions of devotees, who consider pulling the chariots a sacred act that brings spiritual merit and divine blessings.

This year's  149th Rath Yatra began on July 16and will continue for nine days, concluding with the Bahuda Yatra on July 24. The deities are scheduled to return ceremonially to the Jagannath Temple on July 27.