Lord’s Chariot stops mid-way during Bahuda yatra in the honour of Muslim devotee

Jul 06, 2020

Puri (Odisha), July 06 (ANI): The world’s famous Rath Yatra that takes place in Puri city of Odisha every year is followed by Bahuda Rath Yatra that takes place after nine days. In this age old tradition, the deities, Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra return back in their chariots from Gundicha temple to their abode in the Puri temple. This return journey is not just a simple Hindu tradition but also presents a wonderful example of communal harmony to the society when the chariots of the deities stop midway in the honour of a Muslim devotee of Lord Jagannath. Just after covering a little distance during the Bahuda Rath Yatra, the chariot of Lord Jagannath also known as Nandighosh stopped outside the grave of Salabega, to pay homage to one of the greatest devotees of Lord Jagannath. This year amid Coronavirus outbreak, though the Supreme Court had earlier said that Rath Yatra cannot be allowed in the interest of public health and safety of citizens, it later on changed its decision after a number of people and organizations filed petition to the top court seeking a review of its decision. One among these petition, was of a Muslim boy named Aftab Hussain from Odisha’s Nayagarh district, who is now being called as the second Salabega for his noble move.