Rath Yatra celebrated at Fremont Hindu Temple in USA

Fremont, California, July 16:  Rath Yatra was celebrated with great enthusiasm at the Fremont Hindu Temple on July 11, organised by members of the Odia Community in Bay Area. This is the first Jagannath temple founded by the Odia families in Bay Area. Attended by members of the Odia community and the larger Indian American community, the event attracted 600 plus people. The Consul General of India in SFO, Dr TV Nagendra Prasad and his wife Padma, Anuraag Pal representing State Assembly member Alex Lee, Mayor of Fremont Lily Mei, Fremont City Council Member Teresa Cox graced the occasion.  The temple has been following Lord Jagannath traditions and rituals for the past 27 years ritualistically that attracts folks from the Odia community, Indian American and beyond. Mayor Lily Mei said, “I have been attending the Rath Yatra for over 15 years here at the Fremont Hindu Temple and enjoy the programmes of the vibrant Odia and Indian American community”. Dr Romesh Japra, Chairman of the Fremont Temple, said, “The temple has finally opened with in person activities with this Ratha Yatra utsav. By Lord Jagannath’s grace hopefully, we will come out of the pandemic soon. The temple follows all the rituals to complete this annual tradition of Rath Yatra. It’s a blessing for us to be able to conduct Ratha Yatra every year and all due to the efforts of the temple management and a handful of Odia community members and devotees.” He appreciated the contribution by an Odia senior member and a committed devotee, the late Deba Mohanty who was instrumental in initiating and starting the first Ratha Jatra in Silicon Valley, here at Fremont Hindu Temple. The Consul General and his wife felt blessed to have attended and participated in this holy event far away from India. He congratulated Dr Japra, the organizers, and the temple for hosting the event and was happy to see in-person participation praying that the pandemic goes away with the beginning of Ratha Yatra.  “This year Rath Yatra at Fremont Temple was held in a form of a mini Utsav, one of a kind memorable event that our devotees enjoyed and praying that the COVID- 19 pandemic will go away soon,” said Reena Patnaik and Mahesh Pakala, trustees of the temple.