Himal Press 
File Photo
ITAHARI: All preparations have been completed for the Radhakrishna Ratha Yatra (procession) to be held in Biratnagar on Thursday.
Security has been heightened in Biratnagar in anticipation of the procession which is expected to draw a large number of devotees. The organizing committee has said that all the necessary arrangements for this procession, which holds religious, cultural, and historical significance in Biratnagar, are in place.
The Rath Yatra, closely associated with Biratnagar’s identity, takes place annually on the day following Shri Krishna Janmashtami. Thousands of devotees gather to witness the procession of the chariot carrying the divine couple, Radha and Krishna, as it winds through the streets of Biratnagar.
According to the organizers, 18 sub-committees have been formed to oversee and manage various aspects of the procession. The procession will begin from the Radhakrishna Temple located in Biratnagar Metropolitan City-1. Kailash Regmi, chairman of the main organizing committee, has confirmed that all necessary arrangements, including the decoration of the pagoda-style chariot, route cleaning, and logistics have been completed.
A grand chariot measuring 22 feet in length, 14 feet in width, and 18 feet in height has been prepared for the procession. Two ropes, each measuring 75 feet in length, will be fixed to the front of the chariot, allowing devotees to pull it. Men will pull the chariot from the right side, while women will pull from the left. The organizers brought six artisans from Kolkata, India, to decorate the chariot.
The procession is scheduled to leave the temple complex at 3 pm and pass through Golchha Chowk, Jaljala Chowk, Traffic Chowk, Rodshesh Chowk, Bus Park, Mahendra Chowk, Dharan Road, and Bargachi, covering a distance of approximately 9 km before returning to the temple premises. The procession will be accompanied by over 40 cultural groups.
Morang Police Chief SP Deepak Pokharel has said that the police have taken strong security measures for the procession. He noted that police personnel will be deployed, even in plainclothes, to ensure the safety and security of the event.
