One-hour road closure as Labasa prepares for Ratha Yatra procession

The India Sanmarga Ikya (TISI) Sangam Festival of Brahmotsavam annual procession, known as the “Ratha Yatra”, will be held in Labasa on Saturday.

The procession, where deities are placed on a chariot, will begin at the Labasa Sangam Temple and proceed through the main street of Labasa Town before returning to the temple.

TISI Sangam Labasa branch president Shirvanandam said the procession will start at 12pm and conclude at 1pm.

“The procession is a beautiful programme where devotees wait patiently lying in the middle of the road, which shows an act of total submission to God,” Mr Shirvanandam said.

“When the chariot carrying the deities, Lord Venkateshwara and Goddess Lakshmi, passes over devotees lying on the road, they are sprinkled with a mixture of turmeric powder to cleanse them.”

Devotees believe that once the chariot passes over them, their sins are washed away and their lives are renewed.

“The Brahmotsavam festival is an 11-day programme where some devotees fast, refrain from eating meat, attend daily prayers at the temple and undertake charity work,” he said.

“We would like to thank the Fiji Roads Authority for understanding the importance of our annual festival and all those who donated.”

Members of the public are advised to be mindful of a one-hour road closure during the procession.