post news network, Puri, July 19: During the Rath Yatra, a number of people of different nationalities seemed to take a dip in the sea of devotion as they enjoyed the processions accompanying the chariots and the rituals that marked the Nabakalebara festival this year from their ‘safe’ viewing points, away from the ecstasy and the sweat of the multitude of devotees jostling on the roads of Puri, especially the Grand Road.
The galleries along the Grand road, apparently were their undeclared vantage points, from where most of the foreigners watched the Objects of devotion of the teeming millions roll. Many said that the mega festival would always remind them of India when they are out of this country and in their respective nations, following their mundane routine.
Leeza Zager, who came from Germany, witnessed the grand festival for the first time. She said, “This was a unique experience. I had never seen such huge crowd coming together for one religious event. It was worth visiting Puri this time. I feel lucky that I could get a glimpse of the grand festival personally.”
Many young people from other countries too took part in the event. 28-year-old Robert Chang Lee of Japan was one of them. “I and some of my friends were here in the city when the grand festival of Rath Yatra was held. The event taught me what a grand event really means. We had a great time watching the whole event and got to learn something more about Hindu mythology vis-a-vis our existing idea about the principal religion of this vast country,” he told this reporter as he was leaving Puri in the evening.
For Angela Christopher, the 38-year-old lady from the Netherlands, the event was ‘splendid’ and she wouldn’t forget it in her whole life. “It was indeed a splendid thing to see so many people coming together for one event. I saw many people standing almost the whole day in the hope of catching a glimpse of their Gods passing by. It really needs a lot of strength to stand in a crowd for the whole day. I will never forget the event in my life,” she said.
However, many foreigners had to face some problems due to the traffic restrictions. Those who came from areas near the sea beach and the CT Road had no other option but to walk for around 5kms to reach their respective destinations as most of the other people in the city did.
