Utkala Ghana Association (UGA), in partnership with ISKCON Ghana, has successfully celebrated the annual Shree Jagannatha Ratha Yatra (Chariot Festival) at the Shree Jagannatha Temple in Accra, bringing together nearly 1,000 devotees and well-wishers from diverse religious, cultural, and national backgrounds.

The festival, dedicated to Lord Jagannatha, Lord Balabhadra, Devi Subhadra, and Sudarshana, attracted members of the Indian community alongside a large number of Ghanaians, reflecting the spirit of inclusivity, devotion, and peaceful coexistence that the celebration embodies.

The vibrant event featured the traditional pulling of beautifully decorated chariots, devotional kirtans, prayers, cultural performances, and the distribution of Mahaprasad, creating an atmosphere of spirituality, joy, and community fellowship.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah encouraged members of the Utkala Ghana Association and the wider Hindu community to continue praying for Ghana’s peace, unity, stability, and prosperity.

He expressed his appreciation for being part of the celebration, describing the Ratha Yatra as a powerful symbol of Ghana’s enduring commitment to religious tolerance, cultural diversity, and harmonious coexistence among people of different faiths.

Mr. Debrah conveyed the greetings and appreciation of the government of Ghana to the Utkala Ghana Association for its valuable contributions to the country’s social and cultural development.

He commended the Association for preserving its rich cultural heritage, promoting unity, and strengthening the longstanding friendship between the Indian community and the people of Ghana.

According to him, Ghana’s peaceful environment has been sustained through the collective efforts and prayers of its people, with every religious community playing an important role in safeguarding the nation’s peace and stability.

He urged members of the Association to continue remembering Ghana in their prayers, seeking God’s blessings for wisdom for the nation’s leaders, unity among its citizens, and continued national development.

“Your prayers are important for the growth and prosperity of our country. Let us continue to ask God to guide our leaders, preserve the peace we enjoy, and bless Ghana with continued progress and prosperity,” he stated.

The Chief of Staff also encouraged the Association to further strengthen the bonds of friendship between Ghana and the Indian community through cultural exchange, charitable initiatives, and community development programmes.

Speaking at the event, the President of the Utkala Ghana Association, Dr. Deepak Kumar Das, noted that this year’s celebration marked the Association’s 15th consecutive Ratha Yatra Festival since its establishment in Ghana in 2011.

He explained that the annual festival honours Lord Jagannatha, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra while promoting devotion, compassion, unity, social harmony, and cultural diversity among people from all walks of life.

Dr. Das emphasised that the Shree Jagannatha Temple remains open to everyone, irrespective of religion, nationality, or background.

“The Jagannatha Temple is open from morning until evening. Every Sunday, we conduct special prayers followed by the distribution of free Mahaprasad (lunch)”.
Everyone, regardless of religion or belief, is warmly welcome to worship with us and participate in our activities,” he said.

Highlighting the Association’s commitment to inclusivity, he noted that people from different faiths regularly participate in its programmes.

“There is nothing like ‘you cannot come here. Everyone is welcome. As you witnessed today, nearly one-third of the devotees were Ghanaians. We are united in our devotion and in our shared desire to celebrate God together,” he added.

Dr. Das revealed that nearly 1,000 devotees participated in this year’s festival and expressed confidence that future celebrations would continue to grow in both scale and participation.

He also expressed sincere appreciation to Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, for accepting the Association’s invitation, noting that his presence demonstrated the government of Ghana’s unwavering commitment to religious harmony, multiculturalism, and national unity.

The annual Shree Jagannatha Ratha Yatra, one of the most sacred festivals in the Hindu calendar, symbolises devotion, compassion, equality, and the triumph of righteousness.

The celebration concluded with devotional music, cultural performances, the ceremonial procession of the chariots through the streets of Accra, prayers, and the distribution of Mahaprasad, reaffirming Ghana’s enduring commitment to religious freedom, cultural diversity, and peaceful multicultural coexistence.

The annual Shree Jagannatha Ratha Yatra was graced by the High Commissioner of India to Ghana, H.E. Shri Surinder Bhagat, who attended the celebration with his family as the Chief Guest, while the Chief of Staff of the Republic of Ghana, Hon. Julius Debrah, served as the Guest of Honour.