Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat sweeping the path at the start of Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Dehradun on Saturday. (Press Trust of India)
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat today took part in a grand rath yatra of Lord Jagannath in the city on the lines of Puri Gundicha rath yatra and also offered prayers at an Eidgah in Haridwar on the occasion of Eid-Ul-Fitr.
It was the millenium's first Nabakalebar yatra of Lord Jagannath, marking the assumption of a new form by the deity, which takes place every 19 years.
After paying obeisance to the deity, the Chief Minister said it was a happy coincidence that Lord Jagannath's rath yatra festival and Eid-ul-Fitr are being celebrated side by side across the country with great fervour.
Later, Mr Rawat arrived at the Eidgah in Jwalapur in Haridwar to convey his good wishes to those offering prayers there.
Eidgah committee secretary Naim Qureshi offered a shawl to the Chief Minister to welcome him on the occasion.