By Our Correspondent
Ahmedabad: On the auspicious day of Ashadhi Beej, the 148th Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath commenced from the 400-year-old Jagannath Temple in Ahmedabad’s Jamalpur area. Devotees thronged in large numbers as Lord Jagannath, accompanied by his brother Balramji and sister Subhadraji, embarked on a city procession, with chants of “Jai Ranchhod, Makhan Chor” resonating through the air.
The atmosphere reverberated with devotion as the traditional procession began. At 4 a.m., Union Home Minister Amit Shah, along with his family, participated in the Mangla Aarti, while Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel performed the Pahind ritual. In the presence of dignitaries, including Amit Shah and Gujarat’s Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghvi, the three chariots carrying Lord Jagannath, Subhadraji, and Balabhadraji set off. For the first time, the Rath Yatra was honored with a Guard of Honour. By early Friday morning, crowds of devotees had gathered, and light showers in Saraspur and Kalupur added to their joy. The procession traversed the city throughout the day, returning to the temple by late evening.
The Rath Yatra featured vibrant performances, including 18 decorated elephants, 101 trucks showcasing Indian culture, 30 akhadas performing physical feats, 18 bhajan troupes, and three musical bands. Around 2,500 saints and sadhus from Haridwar, Ayodhya, Nashik, Ujjain, Jagannathpuri, and Saurashtra joined the event. Flower showers greeted the procession along the entire route, with thousands of devotees lining up for a glimpse of Lord Jagannath.
To ensure a peaceful event without disruptions, unprecedented security arrangements were made, with approximately 23,800 personnel deployed across the city. For the first time, an Artificial Intelligence-based surveillance system was used to prevent crowd-related incidents, marking a milestone in crowd management. Around 4,500 security personnel were stationed along the 16-km route, with 1,931 dedicated to traffic management. Several roads were closed to general traffic. Senior police officials monitored the procession using 2,872 body-worn cameras, 41 drones, 96 fixed cameras, and 25 watchtowers connected to a control room.
Notably, an incident occurred when three elephants in the procession became uncontrollable and strayed into nearby lanes in the Khadia area, reportedly due to loud DJ music. This caused panic among the crowd, resulting in minor injuries to three people. Within minutes, the mahouts regained control, and the three elephants were removed from the procession. No major casualties were reported, thanks to swift police action. Additionally, a technical issue arose near Kalupur Bridge when a wheel of Lord Balabhadra’s chariot was damaged. The faulty wheel was replaced, allowing the procession to continue smoothly.
Overall, the 148th traditional Rath Yatra concluded peacefully, reflecting the devotion and meticulous planning that defined this grand celebration.