Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah kickstarted the 149th annual Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad by performing rituals at the Shree Jagannath Mandir in the Jamalpur area. Shah arrived early in the morning, participated in the traditional Mangala Aarti, and sought blessings from Lord Jagannath.
The Mangala Aarti, a significant prelude to the Rath Yatra, was attended by thousands of devotees who gathered at the temple to witness the religious ceremonies. The yatra, starting from the historic Shree Jagannathji Mandir, is a grand procession that attracts devotees from Gujarat and across India.
Security measures for the event are robust this year, with over 31,000 Gujarat Police personnel deployed along the 16-km route. Drones, AI-enabled surveillance, CCTV cameras, and body-worn cameras are being used for monitoring. Elaborate arrangements for crowd control, sanitation, medical services, and emergency response have been made for the smooth conduct of the yatra.
