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Bhubaneswar, June 27 (IANS) A large crowd of devotees has gathered at Puri’s Jagannath Temple for Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra that will commence on Friday. Jagannath Rath Yatra, also known as the Chariot Festival or Shree Gundicha Yatra, is a major Hindu festival celebrated annually in Odisha.

One of the most revered and spectacular festivals in India, the Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra is celebrated with much joy and grandeur by devotees every year. The festival, which is rooted in deep spiritual tradition and centuries-old rituals, is celebrated in Puri, Odisha and it attracts hundreds of devotees from across the world. The Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra, as the name suggests, marks the symbolic journey of Lord Jagannath, along with his siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra, from the main temple to the Gundicha Temple, which is their aunt’s abode, in beautifully decorated, massive wooden chariots.The Rath Yatra is not just a religious procession— it is a celebration of devotion, unity bringing devotees from across the world together, and a spiritual liberation. It reflects the core Hindu belief that the divine resides among the people and journeys with them. The opportunity to pull the ropes of the Rath or chariots is considered a deeply auspicious act that washes away people’s sins and brings the God’s blessings. Every detail of the event— from the creation of the chariots to the beating of drums and chanting of mantras— adds to its spiritual energy and grandeur, which is awe-inspiring.Whether you’re a believer in Lord Jagannath or a curious traveler to this grand festival, the Jagannath Rath Yatra offers a unique, soul-stirring glimpse into India’s vibrant culture and unwavering faith. It’s not just a festival— it’s an experience of a lifetime.This year, the Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra is happening on June 27, 2025 (today). To help you wish your loved ones on this auspicious day, here we list some messages, quotes, images, Facebook & Whatsapp status to share with your loved ones:

Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra wishes, messages, Facebook & Whatsapp status

1. May Lord Jagannath ji bless us all with peace, prosperity, and happiness. Happy Rath Yatra!2. Here’s wishing you a very happy Rath Yatra, from our family to yours!3. On this sacred occasion of the Rath Yatra, may God and the divine chariots guide your life toward happiness and spiritual growth. Jai Jagannath ji!4. May the mighty wheels of Jagannath ji’s chariot bring good luck and blessings in your life. Happy Rath Yatra!5. May Lord Jagannath ji bless you and remove all obstacles from your life. Happy Rath Yatra!6. Let us bow before the Lord Jagannath and seek his divine blessings for a brighter future. 7. Happy Rath Yatra!8. May Lord Jagannath shower his divine grace and blessings on you and your family on this auspicious day. Jai Jagannath!9. Jai Jagannath! Happy Rath Yatra!10. May this Rath Yatra bring new hope, lots of love, and peace in your life. Jai Jagannath!11. May your day be as joyful, colourful and vibrant as the Rath Yatra itself. Jai Jagannath ji!12. On this auspicious day, may Lord Jagannath’s divine blessings reach every corner. Celebrate with love!

Facebook & WhatsApp Status for Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra

13. Jai Jagannath! Let the divine chariot roll into our lives with blessings. 14. Let’s pull the ropes of devotion today— Happy Rath Yatra 2025! 15. May Lord Jagannath’s chariot lead your life to peace and purpose.16. Feeling blessed to witness the glory of Jagannath Rath Yatra. Jai Jagannath ji!17. Let us walk on the path of faith, and seek Lord Jagannath ji’s blessings!18. Jai Jagannath ji! Please bless us today and help us grow spiritually.19. Divine wheels, sacred journey, blessed souls— Rath Yatra 2025 vibes! 20. Let’s welcome the Lord with open hearts and folded hands. Happy Rath Yatra!

Digha: Security personnel stand near the ‘chariot’ outside Jagannath Dham ahead of Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra, in Digha, West Bengal. (PTI Photo/Swapan Mahapatra) (PTI06_27_2025_000024B)

1. When Lord Jagannath rides his chariot, the entire world moves in rhythm with faith and devotion.2. Pulling the ropes of Lord Jagannath’s chariot is like pulling the strings of your own soul towards salvation.3. Rath Yatra reminds us that no journey is too long when the Lord walks beside us.4. Let the wheels of Lord Jagannath’s chariot crush your worries and pave the way for peace and joy.5. The divine journey of Rath Yatra is a celebration of devotion, humility, and surrender.6. In the movement of the chariot lies the rhythm of the universe— Jagannath is both the journey and the destination.7. The hands that pull the Lord’s chariot are blessed with strength, hope, and grace.8. Every Rath Yatra is a reminder that we’re never alone—Lord Jagannath walks with us, always.9. May Lord Jagannath’s blessings guide your life like his chariot glides through the streets of Puri.10. On this sacred day, let your heart be the chariot and your devotion be the path for Lord Jagannath to dwell in.

Puri: Chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra at the Jagannath Temple, on the eve of the annual �Rath Yatra� festival, in Puri, Odisha. (PTI Photo) (PTI06_26_2025_000330B)

Ahmedabad, June 27 (IANS) The 148th Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath rolled out on the streets of Ahmedabad on Friday, blending deep-rooted tradition with cutting-edge security arrangements.

Odisha: Puri gears up for Jagannath Rath Yatra with robust security, advanced surveillance measures

SSC MTS, Havaldar application 2025: The Staff Selection Commission (SSC) has officially released the notification for the Multi-Tasking (Non-Technical) Staff and Havaldar (CBIC & CBN) Examination 2025. The application window is now open on the Commission’s new portal — ssc.gov.in. The recruitment drive is aimed at filling thousands of vacancies in various central government departments, with 1075 posts already announced for Havaldar positions.Vacancies for Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) roles are currently under compilation and will be released separately, the Commission noted in the advertisement.

SSC MTS Havaldar recruitment 2025: Important dates

Candidates can keep an eye on the important dates to avoid missing out on any key event:

SSC MTS Havaldar 2025: Eligibility criteria

Candidates applying for either the MTS or Havaldar posts must have passed Class 10 or an equivalent qualification from a recognised board by August 1, 2025.

SSC MTS exam 2025: Vacancies

While the exact number of MTS vacancies is yet to be disclosed, the Commission has confirmed 1075 openings for Havaldar posts under the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and the Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN).

SSC MTS registration 2025: Steps to apply

Candidates can follow the steps mentioned here to apply for the SSC MTS, Havaldar vacancies 2025:

Alternatively, candidates can click on the link provided here to apply for SSC MTS posts 2025.

SSC MTS 2025: Application fees

The application fee has been set at ₹100. However, women candidates and individuals from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD), and eligible Ex-servicemen are exempted from paying the fee.

SSC MTS selection process 2025

The examination structure for the SSC MTS and Havaldar recruitment varies based on the post applied for. Candidates applying for Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) positions will be required to appear for a Computer-Based Examination (CBE) only.In contrast, those seeking the Havaldar role must undergo a more comprehensive selection process, which includes the Computer-Based Examination followed by a Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and a Physical Standard Test (PST). Notably, the CBE will be administered in a total of 15 languages, encompassing Hindi, English, and 13 regional languages such as Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, and Punjabi. This multilingual approach underscores the Commission’s commitment to greater accessibility and inclusivity across diverse linguistic backgrounds.Candidates can click on the link provided here to download the official notice regarding the SSC MTS and Havaldar application.Aspirants are advised to stay tuned to the official website to get the complete details of the SSC recruitment 2025.

Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma (PTI Photo)

Former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan has shared a personal story from the early days of his career in his autobiography, revealing details of a relationship he developed during the 2006 India A tour to Australia. In the book, Dhawan recounted how he secretly brought his girlfriend into the hotel room he was sharing with teammate Rohit Sharma, and how word of their relationship eventually spread through the team.During the tour, Dhawan met a woman with whom he quickly formed a strong bond, believing she might be his life partner.“She was very beautiful, and suddenly I was in love again! I thought to myself, ‘She is the one for me, and I am going to marry her,” Dhawan wrote in his autobiography.The tour began well for Dhawan, with a solid start on the field, but he admitted that his focus shifted as he spent more time with his girlfriend, whom he refers to as Ellen (not her real name).“I started with a half-century in a practice game, and my tour was progressing well. After every game, I would go over to meet up with Ellen (not her real name) and I soon started smuggling her into my hotel room which I was sharing with Rohit Sharma. Now and then, he would complain in Hindi. ‘Will you let me sleep?'”

Their relationship became widely known within the squad after a senior national selector spotted the two together.“One evening, when I headed for dinner with Ellen, news of her presence spread like wildfire throughout the entire squad. A senior national selector, who was on tour with us, spotted us walking in the lobby with our hands linked. It didn’t even occur to me that I should let go of her hand, because to me, we were committing no crime. There was a good chance that if I had performed consistently on that Australia tour, I would have made it to the senior Indian side, but my performance kept dipping.“

Despite the distraction during that tour, Dhawan went on to enjoy a distinguished international career, representing India in 34 Tests, 167 One Day Internationals, and 68 T20 Internationals.In ODIs, he scored 6793 runs at an average of 44.11, including 17 centuries and 39 fifties. In Test cricket, he amassed 2315 runs at an average of 40.61, which included 7 centuries and 5 half-centuries.

File photo: Israeli defence minister Israel Katz (left) and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayotollah Khamenei (Picture credit: ANI)

Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, said on Thursday that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was marked for assassination during the recent 12-day conflict, but evaded elimination by going underground. “If Khamenei had been in our sights, we would have taken him out,” Katz told Kan public television, adding that the Iranian leader “went very deep underground and broke off contacts with commanders,” making a strike “not realistic”, according to Reuters.Speaking in a round of televised interviews, Katz reiterated that Israel actively searched for Khamenei throughout the war. “We searched a lot,” he told Channel 13, explaining that Israel’s goal was not regime change but to destabilise Iran’s leadership and apply pressure mid-conflict.The war, which began on June 13 and concluded with a US-brokered ceasefire on June 25, saw Israel launch airstrikes that killed several top Iranian commanders and nuclear scientists. Katz said Israel maintained aerial superiority and enforced what he described as a policy of “enforcement actions against Iran,” designed to prevent the country from rebuilding its nuclear and missile capabilities, as per the Times of Israel.Asked if Israel had sought US approval to target Khamenei, Katz told Channel 13, “We don’t need permission for these things.” He also compared Khamenei to Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed last year, advising the Iranian leader to remain in hiding, “I wouldn’t recommend that he stay tranquil,” Katz told Kan. “He should learn from the late Nasrallah… I recommend that he do the same thing.”US President Donald Trump had also threatened Khamenei’s life during the conflict. On June 17, Trump wrote on social media: “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding… We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now.” However, days later, Trump walked back the statement, saying regime change was not advisable.Despite his earlier stance, Trump ordered the launch of Operation Midnight Hammer, a series of precision strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the strikes were a “total obliteration” and successfully degraded Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. “It was a total success… Not only does our own intelligence say that, but even the Iranian foreign minister and the United Nations agreed,” she said at a briefingLeavitt also confirmed that the Trump administration remains focused on diplomacy and peace, with US and Iranian officials set to hold talks next week. She said the US is in close communication with intermediaries like Qatar to explore pathways for Iran to adopt a “non-enrichment civil nuclear program.”The ceasefire has shifted priorities. Katz said Israel will no longer pursue Khamenei’s life post-ceasefire but warned that any future provocations would be met with force. “There’s a difference, before the ceasefire, after the ceasefire,” he said.He also acknowledged that while Israel destroyed Iran’s enrichment capabilities, it does not know the location of all enriched uranium. However, Katz claimed that the strikes have delayed Iran’s nuclear ambitions “by long years” and vowed that “we won’t let that happen.”