NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah, accompanied by his wife Sonal Shah, performed the ‘Mangla Aarti’ at the Jagannath Temple on Sunday morning ahead of the 147th Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Ahmedabad.
Additionally, chief minister of Gujarat Bhupendra Patel and home minister Harsh Sanghavi 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.
The annual yatra is taking place in Ahmedabad where more than 15,000 police personnel have been deployed to guard the event which draws lakhs of devotees, according to the police.
On the eve of the Rath Yatra, Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel also visited the Jagannath Puri Temple in Odisha to offer prayers.
The Rath Yatra, also known as the Chariot Festival, believed to be as old as the Jagannath Temple in Puri, is celebrated with great fanfare worldwide, from New Zealand to London and South Africa.
The anticipation builds as the three chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra—Nandighosha, Darpadalana, and Taladhwaja—were brought to the Singha Dwara of Puri Srimandir ahead of the procession.
Celebrated globally, the festival symbolizes the onward journey of the Holy Trinity to their maternal aunt, Goddess Gundicha Devi’s Temple, and concludes with their return after eight days.
The grand Rath Yatra promises to draw lakhs of worshippers, eager to participate in one of the most revered and historic religious events in India
Ahmedabad hosts 147th Rath Yatra
The 147th edition of the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath is taking place today in Ahmedabad. The procession will continue throughout the day, concluding at the main temple in the evening.
Extensive security measures
More than 15,000 police personnel have been deployed to ensure the safety of the participants and the smooth conduct of the event.
“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 Neeraj Badgujar, JCP of Ahmedabad Police, detailing the preparations.
President Murmu’s visit to Odisha
Meanwhile, President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Odisha on Saturday for a four-day visit. Governor Raghubar Das and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi received her at the Biju Patnaik International Airport.
Murmu will attend the 96th death anniversary of Odia icon ‘Utkalamani’ Pandit Gopabandhu Das, who played a pioneering role in the formation of Odisha as a separate state in 1936.
She will visit Udayagiri caves and interact with students of Bibhuti Kanungo College of Art and Crafts and Utkal University of Culture. On July 9, she will grace the graduation ceremony of NISER in Bhubaneswar before concluding her visit.
Odisha’s innovative crowd management
To manage the crowd and traffic in the city, the Odisha administration is fully prepared.
For the first time, Odisha Police will implement artificial intelligence (AI) technology on a pilot basis for efficient traffic and crowd management during the Rath Yatra.
Additional DGP, Odisha, Dayal Gangwar, said, “This is the first time, as a pilot project, we are using AI-based CCTV coverage at around 40 points where we have placed CCTV cameras. We will be using AI amalgamated with the CCTV system. We will also be using a drone system to identify blind spots and jam areas. We are also using drones along with the PA (Public Address) system to assist the police officers in managing huge traffic jams at 4-5 identified spots.”
Support for devotees
Odisha transport minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena announced the implementation of 24-hour control rooms and medical kits for devotees in every bus deployed for the Yatra. “Our department has implemented many programs for the Rath Yatra. There will be a control room operating 24 hours a day, and six cranes will be stationed at different locations. In case of vehicle breakdowns, we have coordinated with various companies to provide breakdown services. Additionally, every bus will have a medical kit,” he said.
Healthcare and safety measures have also been prioritized, with a 225-bed super speciality hospital set up at both ends of the grand road for the Rath Yatra. Puri District Magistrate Siddharth Shankar Swain said, “Police deployment is massive. Around 28 parking places have been identified for people. Public amenities at transit points are also being planned so that visitors from different districts and states can have temporary resting places.”
Railways’ special arrangements
The railways ministry has arranged 315 special trains for the devotees of Lord Jagannath.
Union railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, “For the auspicious occasion of the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, special arrangements are being made by the railways. To facilitate the devotees of Maha Prabhu from the different states of Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and Jharkhand, at least 315 special trains will run, covering all parts of Odisha.”
Additionally, chief minister of Gujarat Bhupendra Patel and home minister Harsh Sanghavi 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.
The annual yatra is taking place in Ahmedabad where more than 15,000 police personnel have been deployed to guard the event which draws lakhs of devotees, according to the police.
On the eve of the Rath Yatra, Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel also visited the Jagannath Puri Temple in Odisha to offer prayers.
The Rath Yatra, also known as the Chariot Festival, believed to be as old as the Jagannath Temple in Puri, is celebrated with great fanfare worldwide, from New Zealand to London and South Africa.
The anticipation builds as the three chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra—Nandighosha, Darpadalana, and Taladhwaja—were brought to the Singha Dwara of Puri Srimandir ahead of the procession.
Celebrated globally, the festival symbolizes the onward journey of the Holy Trinity to their maternal aunt, Goddess Gundicha Devi’s Temple, and concludes with their return after eight days.
The grand Rath Yatra promises to draw lakhs of worshippers, eager to participate in one of the most revered and historic religious events in India
Ahmedabad hosts 147th Rath Yatra
The 147th edition of the annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath is taking place today in Ahmedabad. The procession will continue throughout the day, concluding at the main temple in the evening.
Extensive security measures
More than 15,000 police personnel have been deployed to ensure the safety of the participants and the smooth conduct of the event.
“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 Neeraj Badgujar, JCP of Ahmedabad Police, detailing the preparations.
President Murmu’s visit to Odisha
Meanwhile, President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Odisha on Saturday for a four-day visit. Governor Raghubar Das and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi received her at the Biju Patnaik International Airport.
Murmu will attend the 96th death anniversary of Odia icon ‘Utkalamani’ Pandit Gopabandhu Das, who played a pioneering role in the formation of Odisha as a separate state in 1936.
She will visit Udayagiri caves and interact with students of Bibhuti Kanungo College of Art and Crafts and Utkal University of Culture. On July 9, she will grace the graduation ceremony of NISER in Bhubaneswar before concluding her visit.
Odisha’s innovative crowd management
To manage the crowd and traffic in the city, the Odisha administration is fully prepared.
For the first time, Odisha Police will implement artificial intelligence (AI) technology on a pilot basis for efficient traffic and crowd management during the Rath Yatra.
Additional DGP, Odisha, Dayal Gangwar, said, “This is the first time, as a pilot project, we are using AI-based CCTV coverage at around 40 points where we have placed CCTV cameras. We will be using AI amalgamated with the CCTV system. We will also be using a drone system to identify blind spots and jam areas. We are also using drones along with the PA (Public Address) system to assist the police officers in managing huge traffic jams at 4-5 identified spots.”
Support for devotees
Odisha transport minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena announced the implementation of 24-hour control rooms and medical kits for devotees in every bus deployed for the Yatra. “Our department has implemented many programs for the Rath Yatra. There will be a control room operating 24 hours a day, and six cranes will be stationed at different locations. In case of vehicle breakdowns, we have coordinated with various companies to provide breakdown services. Additionally, every bus will have a medical kit,” he said.
Healthcare and safety measures have also been prioritized, with a 225-bed super speciality hospital set up at both ends of the grand road for the Rath Yatra. Puri District Magistrate Siddharth Shankar Swain said, “Police deployment is massive. Around 28 parking places have been identified for people. Public amenities at transit points are also being planned so that visitors from different districts and states can have temporary resting places.”
Railways’ special arrangements
The railways ministry has arranged 315 special trains for the devotees of Lord Jagannath.
Union railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, “For the auspicious occasion of the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, special arrangements are being made by the railways. To facilitate the devotees of Maha Prabhu from the different states of Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and Jharkhand, at least 315 special trains will run, covering all parts of Odisha.”