2009 Rath Jatra Celebration

Last Updated on Tuesday, 30 June 2009 02:17 Written by Administrator Sunday, 19 April 2009 06:47

The Odisha Community Japan celebrated the 2009 Rath Jatra on 27th June at Misato Danchi, Saitama. OCJ members, volunteers, Japanese friends worked hard and accomplished this year's celebrations on a grand scale - thanks to generous sponsorship, kind support from several organizations and a large number of participants. OCJ thanks all sponsors, volunteers and participants for their generous support and warm encouragements to make the event a grand success. The event was covered by seveal news media including NHK TV. 
 


The Rath Jatra is a famous festival in India celebrated in the coastal city of Puri in Odisha province. This is an occasion in which the famous god Jagannath together with his brother and sister are taken in chariots to meet common people on the street. This is a kind of thanks giving celebration resembling Kanda festival in Tokyo, Gion festival in Kyoto and several such matsuris throughout Japan. We hope our efforts will help to appreciate common cultural practices and to strengthen the Japan-India friendship.