Amit Shah To Attend Mangala Aarti Ahead Of Ahmedabad Rath Yatra

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah will participate in the Mangala Aarti at the historic Shri Jagannath Temple in Ahmedabad’s Jamalpur area early on Thursday before the commencement of the city’s 149th Jagannath Rath Yatra, officials said.

According to the official programme, Shah will attend the sacred ritual at 03:15 AM on July 16 at the temple, from where the annual procession begins every year. His visit comes ahead of one of Gujarat’s largest religious events, which attracts lakhs of devotees from across the state and other parts of the country.

The Jagannath Rath Yatra takes place every year on Ashadhi Bij and starts from the nearly 400-year-old Shri Jagannath Temple.

During the procession, devotees escort the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra along the traditional route before the deities return to the temple later in the day.

The Ahmedabad Rath Yatra is recognised as the country’s second-largest Jagannath Rath Yatra after the Puri festival.

Amit Shah has regularly attended the Mangala Aarti in previous years, continuing a long-standing tradition of offering prayers before the ceremonial departure of the chariots.

Authorities have implemented extensive security and civic arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of this year’s procession.

Police have deployed drones, high-resolution CCTV cameras and other advanced surveillance systems to monitor the route and manage large crowds effectively.

Officials have also conducted detailed inspections and coordinated preparations across the procession route.

The temple will perform the Mangala Aarti and other early morning rituals before placing the deities on the chariots, marking the formal beginning of Ahmedabad’s 149th Jagannath Rath Yatra.

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