Sree Vijaya Kali Ashram (Sri Siddha Lalitha Peetham) in Burlington, conducted the annual chariot festival, the most awaited festival of Rath Yatra (procession of Lord Jagannath) on Saturday, 14th July 2018. The temple has been performing this Yatra for several years. 

It was a divine experience where devotees had the opportunity to sing and dance in abandon as the chariot with Lord Jagganatha, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra made its way on the streets of Burlington ending at the Sree Vijaya Kali Ashram.  The priest at the temple is a Sadak whose very special relationship with the Goddess brings great blessings to the devotees. 

The procession started in a 14’ tall chariot specially for the purpose and decorated with various designs and colors and with flowers. 

The event commenced with Ganapati Puja by the head of the Ashram Sri. Bhavani Tejasvi Athmaram who later performed all the rituals to Lord Jagannath (Lord Krishna), his sister Goddess Subhadra and his elder brother Lord Balabhadra being part of the process getting the lord ready for procession.  With all the vedic chants the procession began at 4:30 pm from the Ashram, proceeded on Wilmington Road towards Cambridge street, Burlington covering over 1.6 miles. 

Devotees danced in the front of the Rath. Devotees from ISKCON, Boston also joined the procession and sang Bhajans during the procession

The police from town of Burlington helped in controlling the traffic thereby the procession went w/o any traffic issues

Nrithya Seva followed the procession while the lord was being decorated for Suna Besha Darshan (Alankar in Golden covering)

The program opened with Smt. Shamoyita Mukherjee performing a Ganesh Vandana in Odissi style. Students of Smt. Jayashree Mohapatra along with the Guru presented a few lovely items in Odissi style. As has become a tradition at the temple, the Nirtya seva ended with Priest Bhavani Athmaram and Smt. Ranjani Saigal presented a few pieces impromptu in Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam styles. 

This was followed by Maha Puja , Arati and Shantijal to Lord Jagannath 

 The photos of the event and all upcoming programs can be seen at www.srikali.org