Over 1,700 devotees and well-wishers gathered in Dubai for the grand celebration of Sri Jagannath Rath Yatra, organised by the Emirates Odia Paribar on the 29th of June. This landmark event, organised at Springdales School in Dubai, marked the largest Rath Yatra ever conducted in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

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Emirates Odia Paribar is a united initiative bringing together Odias from across all seven Emirates of the UAE. This year’s Rath Yatra, held in Dubai, surpassed previous editions in both scale and participation, highlighting the deep-rooted devotion and cultural pride of the Odia community living in the UAE.

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Devotees witnessed all the traditional rituals and pulled the raths with great fervour. Pahandi Bije, Chhera Pahanra, etc., were all conducted in an orderly manner. The entire venue felt as if one were in Odisha itself, rather than far-off Dubai, bringing a profound sense of homecoming to the Odia diaspora. Cries of Jai Jagannath made the entire venue electric with devotion and fervour. Several kirtan mandalis added to the spiritual atmosphere with soul-stirring chants and devotional music. Jagannath-themed Odissi performances by children and adults also showcased the rich culture of Odisha and impressed the devotees. A bhajan samaroh was also organised.

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A cross section of people from all the 7 Emirates of UAE: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah participated in the celebrations. Apart from Odias, a large number of people from other ethnicities also participated in the celebrations. One could hear Hindi, Bengali, and Telugu spoken very frequently among the devotees.

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One of the highlights of this year’s celebration was the Ananda Bazaar Puri style Jagannath Mahaprasad featuring authentic dishes prepared by two cooks specially flown in from Odisha for the occasion. This culinary experience transported devotees back to their roots and added a unique traditional flavour to the festivities.

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