Ahmedabad: Jagnnath Rath Yatra starts; CM Bhupendra Patel and Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi arrive

Ahmedabad(Gujarat) [India], July 7 (ANI): The Jagannath Yatra 2024 has started in Ahmedabad with fanfare and excitement on Sunday morning.

Devotees gathered in large numbers.

Additionally, Chief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendra Patel and Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi also attended the Rath Yatra festival.

Patel performed the ‘Pahind Vidhi’–the symbolic cleaning of the path for the chariot of Jagannath for the Rath Yatra.

Earlier today, ‘Mangla Aarti’ was performed by Union Minister Amit Shah, who was accompanied by his wife Sonal, at the temple.

More than 15,000 police personnel have been deployed for the 147th edition of the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, which is taking place in Ahmedabad today and attracts lakhs of devotees.

“Today, the 147th Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath will take place. Rehearsals have been done for this Rath Yatra by the police. More than 15,000 police personnel have been deployed. Technology like CCTV and drone surveillance will also be used. Arrangements have been made so that the devotees do not face any trouble,” said JCP Ahmedabad Police Neeraj Badgujar while giving the details of the Yatra.

Yesterday, the three chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra–Nandighosha, Darpadalana, and Taladhwaja–were brought to the Singh Dwara of Puri Srimandir ahead of the Yatra.

The Rath Yatra, also known as the Chariot Festival, is believed to be as old as the Jagannath Temple in Puri.

The festival is celebrated with great fanfare from New Zealand to London and South Africa, encompassing the onward journey of the Holy Trinity to their maternal aunt, Goddess Gundicha Devi’s Temple, and culminating with the return journey after eight days.

In reality, the festival stretches from the day of Akshaya Tritiya and culminates with the return of the journey of the Holy Trinity to the Shree Mandir premises.