Ratha Jatra or Yatra (the Chariot festival) is a symbol of equality and integration. The three deities, Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Lord Balabhadra and their sister Subhadra are worshipped within the Puri temple throughout the year. But once a year, on this sacred day, they take a chariot journey to the Gundicha temple through the streets of Puri so that everyone can have the good fortune to see them. Attending the Ratha Jatra at Puri is at the top of every Hindu devotee's wish list and the festival attracts more than one million pilgrims every year, not only from India but also from the different parts of the world.
The Jagannath Society of the Americas (JSA) in collaboration of the Ganesha temple, Nashville brings the Ratha Jatra to our town for all devotees, every year. On 28th June (Saturday) Afternoon (3:00 PM onwards), please join us to celebrate this auspicious festival at the Shri Ganesha temple (527 Old Hickory Blvd, Nashville, TN 37209). The festivities will continue in the evening hours in the form of Bhajan & Aarati of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra & Lord Subhadra and Cultural Program, that includes a speech by Dr Udayanath Sahoo, Chair Professor, Adikabi Sarala Das chair of Odia Studies at Centre of Indian Languages, School of Language, Literature and Culture Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi and Odissi Dance performance by Mrs. Saswati Soumya Sahoo, (is a dancer-choreographer-educator of ‘Nritya Sash Studio’ at Whitby, Canada and followed by dinner for all at the temple auditorium.
We will be celebrating the Return Chariot festival(Bahuda Jatra) on the following weekend (Pooja and Bhajan starts at 9:30 AM and Bahuda Jatra on 6th July, Sunday starts at 10:30 AM). This year we will be also organizing an Odia Cultural Program on 5th July, Saturday 4:00 PM onwards followed by a musical concert by Mrs. Pratyasha Dash. The event will be followed by Dinner at the Shri Ganesha temple.
The detailed schedule of programs for both weekends (Ratha and Bahuda Jatra) is attached in PDF format.
Nashville-RathaJatra-Bahuda-program-2025
We have invited several accomplished artists and scholars from India for this occasion and we don't want them to perform to a half-filled auditorium! I request you to take some time from your busy week and kindly spread the word around among your co-workers and friends so that we can have a good number of audiences during these events. Let's show to others that we, Nashville residents are enthusiastic devotees as well as connoisseurs of fine art and culture!
Thank you all for your support and efforts. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions, concerns or suggestions.
Regards,
Amitav Gouda
President, on behalf of the JSA Executive committee,
Jagannath Society of the Americas (JSA)
615-945-6124
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jagannath Temple Of Americas (JSA)