For the third year in a row, the Shree Jagannath Society, Japan, conducted the Chandan Yatra in Tokyo on Sunday. The rituals were held on the premises of the Radhakrishna temple in the city and were led by Pandit Munindra Panda.
Attendance and Participants
The celebration was attended by 280 devotees and guests, including prominent figures such as NPO Odisha Community Japan president Pratima Behera and Neeranjan Gadgil of Tokyo Marathi Mandal, among others.
Rituals and Offerings
The ceremony included the chanting of the Vishnu Sahastranam, which involves reciting the 1,008 names of the Lord. Devotees offered an equal number of flowers and performed the Chandan Seva (sandalwood paste offering) to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Sudarshan.
Children's Participation
Eight children from the Odia diaspora, representing different age groups, chanted mantras that they had practiced under the guidance of society member Lopamudra Thatoi over the past week. The chanting was based on the theme "mantramaya jeevana," which means integrating mantras into daily life. Thatoi explained, "It means which mantra we should chant waking up in the morning, how we should start our day, mantras before our feet touch Mother Earth, before taking a bath, while having food, before starting studies, and even before going to bed."
Cultural and Spiritual Objectives
Gyanindra Mishra of the society stated that their aim is to promote and share the unique culture and spiritual values of Shree Jagannath among both Indian and Japanese communities, fostering social harmony and cross-cultural collaboration. A cultural program organized by member Sanjib Swain was also staged on the occasion. It included group and solo bhajans, as well as dance performances, including Bharatnatyam by Mai Kikuchi.
Prasad and Community Involvement
The Prasad (edible offering) was prepared by the temple cooks, assisted by members of the Shree Jagannath Society Seva Mandali. The Shree Jagannath Society, Japan, also celebrates other festivals such as Rath Yatra, Kartik Purnima, and Makar Sankranti.
