The Eastern Voice Correspondent

Gayaji. Bihar Legislative Assembly Speaker Dr. Prem Kumar participated with reverence and devotion in the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra festival held in Bodh Gaya today. On this occasion, he first visited the ISKCON temple, where he offered prayers to Lord Krishna and Lord Jagannath, sought blessings and prayed for the happiness, peace, prosperity and well-being of the people of Bihar and the entire nation.
Subsequently, Dr. Prem Kumar actively participated in a cleanliness drive within the Bodh Gaya Jagannath temple complex by sweeping the area himself, thereby conveying a message of cleanliness. He remarked that service is true devotion and that cleanliness is an integral part of Indian culture; maintaining the cleanliness of the temple premises is the moral duty of every devotee.
At the commencement of the Rath Yatra, Dr. Prem Kumar, along with other devotees, inaugurated the procession by pulling the sacred rope of Lord Jagannath’s chariot. The atmosphere resonated with chants of “Jai Jagannath,” filling the air with devotion.
In his address, Dr. Prem Kumar stated that Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra is not merely a religious event but a grand festival that conveys a profound message of social harmony, service, sacrifice and human welfare. Lord Jagannath belongs to everyone and His chariot symbolizes the inclusion of all sections of society. This festival inspires us to embrace the values of unity, harmony, love and nation-building.
He noted that India’s Sanatan culture conveys the message of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” (the world is one family) to the globe. Such spiritual events strengthen our cultural heritage and serve to connect the younger generation with our traditions and values.
Praying to Lord Jagannath, Dr. Prem Kumar expressed the hope that, through His grace, Bihar would continue to advance on the path of development, prosperity, and social harmony, and that the lives of all citizens would be filled with happiness, peace and well-being.