Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the day’s religious observances by participating in the Mangala Aarti at the historic Shree Jagannath Temple in Ahmedabad’s Jamalpur locality before the city’s 149th Jagannath Rath Yatra commenced.
Arriving at the temple before sunrise, Shah joined priests and devotees for the pre-dawn ritual before offering prayers to Lord Jagannath.
The ceremony traditionally signals the beginning of Rath Yatra celebrations. It takes place before the three decorated chariots carrying the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra begin their journey.
Large crowds gathered outside the temple from the early hours of the morning to witness the religious rituals and seek blessings before the procession began.
Senior government representatives, temple management officials, and senior police officers also attended the event as final preparations concluded.
Celebrated every year on Ashadhi Bij, the Rath Yatra starts from the nearly four-century-old Shree Jagannath Temple in Jamalpur and travels through key areas of Ahmedabad before returning to the temple by evening.
The Ahmedabad Rath Yatra ranks as India’s second-largest Jagannath procession after Puri, drawing lakhs of pilgrims and visitors from across Gujarat and other states.
Shah has consistently participated in the Mangala Aarti before the Ahmedabad Rath Yatra over the years, continuing his long-standing association with the annual religious celebration.
To ensure a safe event, the Gujarat Police deployed over 31,000 security personnel along the 16-kilometre procession route.
Officials also used drones, artificial intelligence-powered surveillance systems, thousands of CCTV cameras and body-worn cameras to monitor the yatra in real time. These measures aim to ensure that one of Gujarat’s largest and most revered religious festivals proceeds in a secure and well-organised manner.
Also Read: Dr Dinesh Sharma Urges Students To Dream Big At PGDM Inauguration
To read more such news, download Bharat Express news apps
