By Devansh Desai
Ahmedabad: The magnificent 148th Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath is set to begin today in Ahmedabad, with all preparations now complete. Devotees have been assembling since the early hours of 4 AM, creating an atmosphere of spiritual fervor. The auspicious day commenced with the traditional morning aarti ceremony.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accompanied by his family, visited the Jamalpur Jagannath Temple to perform the morning aarti of the deity. During his visit, he also received blessings from the saints and religious leaders present at the temple. Minister of State for Home Affairs Harsh Sanghvi was also present during the Mangla aarti ceremony.
Ahmedabad 148th Rath Yatra | ગૃહમંત્રી અમિત શાહે ભગવાન જગન્નાથજીની કરી મંગળા આરતી | Rathyatra2025#Ahmedabad #Rathyatra2025 #JaiJagannath #JagannathRathYatra #DivineJourney #Puri #ahmedabad #amitshah #purijagannadh #hindu #festival pic.twitter.com/DOWomjnaQA
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From the early morning hours, the Jagannath Temple witnessed an overwhelming surge of devotees. The temple premises resonated with the chants of “Jai Jagannath,” creating a spiritually charged atmosphere.
In preparation for Lord Jagannath’s 148th Rath Yatra, the deities have been ceremonially placed in their respective chariots. Lord Jagannath has been installed in the Nandighosha chariot, his brother Balaram in the Taladhvaja chariot, and sister Subhadra in the Devadalana chariot. All three chariots are currently positioned in the temple courtyard, awaiting the commencement of the ritual procession.
This year’s Rath Yatra will feature an impressive procession including 18 elephants, 101 trucks showcasing glimpses of Indian culture, 30 akhadas (wrestling groups) demonstrating physical exercises, 18 bhajan groups, and 3 bands. Approximately 2,500 saints and religious figures from holy cities including Haridwar, Ayodhya, Nashik, Ujjain, Jagannathpuri, and Saurashtra will participate in large numbers.
Devotees can also experience the Rath Yatra online through the website www.jagannathjiahd.org for virtual darshan.
Amit Shah extended his wishes for the Rath Yatra on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “Shri Jagannath Rath Yatra is a sacred festival of Sanatan culture, celebrated with devotion by devotees across every corner of the country. Gujarat is also celebrating this festival of Mahaprabhu with great enthusiasm. I pray to Mahaprabhu Jagannathji for everyone’s happy and healthy life, prosperity, and progress.”