Siliguri, 06th July: In preparation for the Rath Yatra on Sunday, the entire country is abuzz with excitement, including Siliguri. The festival of Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra is celebrated with grandeur not only in Puri but also in places like Mahesh and ISKCON temples, as well as various homes. This year, Debashish Haldar, a resident of Ward No. 39 in Siliguri, has constructed a chariot modeled after the famous Puri chariot.
Debashish Haldar shared that his journey of building chariots began during the lockdown. Since then, it has become an annual tradition for him. This year, he received assistance from his daughter and friends in constructing the chariot.
The chariot built by Debashish is designed to easily navigate the streets of Siliguri, allowing it to circumambulate various parts of the city. He emphasized that while many places in Siliguri organize Rath Yatra processions, the large crowds often make it difficult for elderly devotees to have a clear view. Keeping them in mind, he built this accessible chariot to ensure everyone could participate in the festivities.