Ahmedabad: The route of the traditional Jagannathji rath yatra on Thursday reverberated with chants of ‘Jay Jagannath’ as the deities of Jagannathji temple – Lords Jagannath, Balram, and Subhadra – travelled the 16-km route. With over 30,000 police officers and personnel along with companies of paramilitary forces, the procession was estimated to be 1.5 km long.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah participates in the Mangala Arti on the occasion of the Shri Jagannath Rath Yatra at the Shri Jagannath Temple, in Ahmedabad on Thursday
Early on Thursday, Union home minister Amit Shah performed the ‘mangala aarti’, the first prayer of the day, at the Jagannathji Temple in the Jamalpur area, as hundreds participated in the aarti. Later, Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel and deputy chief minister Harsh Sanghavi performed the ‘pahind vidhi’, where the path of the chariots is ritualistically cleared with a golden broom. The CM and DyCM also pulled the chariot first to draw them out of the temple.
A drone view of devotees gathered during the 149th Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra, in Ahmedabad on Thursday
The procession took its traditional route from Khamasa to the Danapith AMC office, to Khadia, to Kalupur, and then to Saraspur. This year, instead of one mameru – traditional gifting by the local temple to the deities – there were two. Saraspur’s Ranchhodraiji Temple is believed to be the maternal place of the deities, where they spend a fortnight ahead of rath yatra. The area hosted a mega feast for over 1 lakh participants of the procession.CM Bhupendra Patel kept an eye on different rath yatras taking place in Gujarat – over a dozen in total – through a centralised dashboard. Senior police and administrative officers were with the CM, said officials.
Devotees play musical instruments during the 149th Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra, in Ahmedabad on Thursday
The procession saw the participation of 18 elephants, 101 trucks and tableaux, 30 akhadas, 10 bhajan groups, and four musical bands, along with three chariots of the deities. Some of the themes of this year’s tableaux include the BJP’s rise to power in West Bengal, the ongoing conflict over the Strait of Hormuz, organ donation, and Gujarat’s culture, among others.
Hindu devotees display their muscles during the annual Rath Yatra, or chariot procession, in Ahmedabad
In the akhada section, at least three prominently featured girls and women were performing stunts. Pankaj Purani, a bodybuilder and akhada practitioner who has participated for over three decades, said there has been a conscious push by akhadas to be more inclusive of girls.
Decorated elephants walk past during the annual Rath Yatra, or chariot procession, in Ahmedabad, India
This year, there was a special focus on the elephants. Last year, an elephant ran amok and injured a man in Khadia. R K Sahu, adviser to the city zoo and one of the supervisors for the elephant group at the procession, said there were strict instructions to the groups along the path welcoming the chariots not to play loud music while the elephants passed through.
A man from the Muslim community gives a floral shower to the devotees during the 149th Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra, in Ahmedabad on Thursday
“Till Saraspur, there has been no untoward incident. The police have also refrained from excessive whistling to control the crowd to ensure that the elephants do not experience sudden noise or light,” he said. “We, however, are ready for any eventuality.”
A mahout on an elephant, along with devotees, present during the 149th Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra, in Ahmedabad on Thursday
The day was marked by a high maximum temperature and high humidity. Senior EMRI 108 officials told TOI that till noon, they have recorded 21 instances of fainting and other heat-related emergencies. The majority were provided on-the-spot treatment, whereas three were taken to the hospital to receive intensive care.
The Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services (AFES) showers the crowd with water to bring relief as the procession rolls through the narrow lanes of Dhal ni Pol
To ensure that devotees and procession participants get some respite, the fire brigade of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) used water cannons to spray water to cool the areas. Water bottles were also distributed among the participants of the procession.
