Bhubaneswar: The Association of Odias in Australia (ORIOZ) celebrated the ‘Bahuda Yatra, the divine return of Lord Jagannath and his siblings from the Mausima Temple to their main abode, with a grand celebration with devotion and gaiety at Cherrybrook Cultural Centre in Sydney.
The event was filled with spiritual fervour, featuring soul-stirring ‘sankirtans’, elegant Odissi performances, and a poignant re-enactment of Maa Lakshmi’s lila.
The celebration also launched the Shree Jagannath Consciousness Movement, aiming to spread Mahaprabhu Jagannath’s culture across Australia. ORIOZ envisions this event as an annual tradition, with plans to establish a permanent Mandir for the Lord in Sydney.
This event follows the success of ORIOZ’s first Ratha Yatra (Gundicha Yatra) celebration on June 29 at BlackTown Showground, which drew over 1000 devotees. The event featured kirtans, ceremonial chariot pulling, and the preparation of Chhapan Bhoga, Lord Jagannath’s favourite delicacies.
Dignitaries in attendance included Moninder Singh, Councilor of Blacktown; Peter Camilleri, Councilor, Blacktown; Nathan Hagarty, MP, Member for Leppington; and Sai Paravastu, President, Hindu Council of Australia.
