Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel kickstarted the 149th Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad by performing the traditional ‘Pahand Vidhi’ at Shree Jagannath Mandir in Jamalpur. This ritual involves symbolically sweeping the path before the chariots with a golden broom as a gesture of humility and service to Lord Jagannath. The yatra, one of Gujarat’s major religious processions, attracts thousands of devotees annually.
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah participated in the Mangala Aarti at the temple and offered prayers before the deities were placed on the chariots. The Rath Yatra, which starts from Shree Jagannath Mandir in Jamalpur, is considered the second-largest Jagannath Rath Yatra in India after Puri. It features the main chariots, elephants, akhadas, devotional music groups, and decorated tableaux.
Authorities have implemented stringent security measures for the event, deploying over 31,000 police and security personnel along the 16.2-km route. Surveillance technologies like AI, facial recognition, drones, and CCTV cameras are being used for real-time monitoring. Special systems for elephant monitoring, GPS trackers, and movement sensors have been introduced to ensure safety during the procession.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and other agencies have arranged sanitation, drinking water, medical services, and traffic management for the smooth conduct of the yatra. A multi-layered security grid has been established by the police along the route to ensure a safe and orderly event.
