post news network
Bhubaneswar, July 1: Doordarshan is to telecast Adharkana and Niladri bijaye rituals associated with the Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra for the first time this year. The telecast on July 16 and 17 will be in addition to the regular coverage of the festival. This was announced at a press conference held in the city Friday.
The car festival, whose key attraction is the journey of Lord Jagannath, Subadhara and Balabhadra from the Jagannath temple to Gundicha temple, begins July 6.
The television coverage will also include Bahuda, Sunabhesa rituals and they will be telecast on DD National, DD Oriya, DD Bharti and DD India. Officials added that commentary of the event will be given in English, Hindi, Oriya and Sanskrit.
“Live telecast of Rath Yatra will begin 8.30 am and will continue till they reach Gundicha temple which will also be done on the day of Bahuda (return journey). Sunabhesa will be telecast from 4 pm till it concludes. Adharkana will be telecast from 7.30 pm to 8.30 pm and Niladri Bijaye from 7.30 pm to 12 midnight,” Santanu Kumar Rath, the deputy director (programme) of Doordarshan, said.
A curtain raiser ‘Ratha, Patha O Jagannath’ will be held July 4 and it will highlight preparations for the festival, its moods and importance. Apart from this, two other programmems ‘Aasichi Rathyatra’ and ‘Ratha Kahe Patha Kahe’ will also be held.
Doordarshan has also made arrangements for “live interactions with viewers”. “Viewers can ask questions to experts during the telecast through twitter: twitter.com/doordarshanbbsr, facebook.com/ddkbbsr, ddkbbsr.gov.in (feedback) or even can send WhatsApp messages to 9439167391.
