Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi Join Jagannath Yatra in Ahmedabad

The 147th Jagannath Yatra began in Ahmedabad with great excitement on Sunday morning. Devotees gathered in large numbers to participate in the festivities.

Key Attendees

Chief Minister of Gujarat Bhupendra Patel and Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi attended the Rath Yatra festival. Bhupendra Patel performed the ‘Pahind Vidhi’, which is the symbolic cleaning of the path for the chariot of Jagannath.

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

Security Measures

More than 15,000 police personnel have been deployed for the 147th edition of the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Ahmedabad. JCP Ahmedabad Police Neeraj Badgujar mentioned that rehearsals have been conducted, and technology like CCTV and drone surveillance will be used to ensure the safety and convenience of the devotees.

About the Festival

The Rath Yatra, also known as the Chariot Festival, is as old as the Jagannath Temple in Puri. It is celebrated with great fanfare worldwide, including places like New Zealand, London, and South Africa. The festival marks the journey of the Holy Trinity—Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra—to their maternal aunt, Goddess Gundicha Devi’s Temple, and their return journey after eight days. The festival actually begins on the day of Akshaya Tritiya and concludes with the return of the Holy Trinity to the Shree Mandir premises.