The 149th Rath Yatra celebrations in Ahmedabad kicked off with the traditional Jal Yatra of Lord Jagannath, signaling the beginning of preparations for the city’s significant annual religious procession. The rituals began at the Lord Jagannath Temple in Jamalpur on the auspicious occasion of Jeth Sud Purnima, with the deity being bathed ceremonially with water from 108 kalash, along with sacred substances like Panchamrit, abir, gulal, and sandalwood-infused water.
The Jal Abhishek of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra took place at the temple amidst Vedic chants. State BJP President Jagdish Vishwakarma, Ahmedabad Mayor Hitesh Barot, and other public representatives participated in the ceremony, which included Ganga pujan and ceremonial anointment. The Jal Yatra procession featured 14 decorated elephants, flags, bullock carts, sacred kalash, bhajan mandalis, and a large gathering of devotees.
The procession followed its traditional route from the temple to the Sabarmati river at Bhudar, where Ganga pujan was conducted as per scriptural tradition. The sacred water from the river was collected in the presence of saints and mahants, filled in the 108 kalash, and brought back to the temple. At the Jamalpur temple, the collected water was used for the ritual bathing of the deities, accompanied by offerings of Panchamrit and water mixed with abir, gulal, and sandalwood as part of the Shodashopachar worship.
