West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has arrived in Digha to review preparations for Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra, scheduled for June 27. The state government intends to host a Rath Yatra in Digha similar to the one in Puri, and the Chief Minister is set to attend the 'Netra Utsav' on June 26, the day before the main festival.

This initiative has stirred political controversy, with Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari planning to distribute prasad from the Puri Jagannath temple to counter Digha's offerings. He accuses Banerjee of feigning Hinduism for electoral gain ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Both the BJP and TMC are at odds over the significance of the Digha Jagannath temple itself.

Meanwhile, ISKCON vice president Radharaman Das detailed the Rath Yatra preparations, mentioning that three chariots will traverse approximately 1 km, with over two lakh people and several foreign visitors expected. This year, ISKCON's Kolkata chariot will notably feature new wheels designed for Sukhoi-30 fighter aircraft.

SOURCE: Bharat Aawaz | IINNSIDE