The 145th Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, brother Balaram and sister Subhadra passed off peacefully in Ahmedabad last week amid intelligence inputs of attempt to sabotage the procession.
Security forces had relief after the procession returned at 8. 30 pm to the Jamalpur Temple, from where it had started at 6. 57 am. Despite fears, no untoward incident was reported. Rath yatra was held after two years because of Covid. More than 200,000 people were estimated to have participated in the yatra along its entire route.
The day started with Union Home Minister Amit Shah arriving at the Jamalpur Temple at 3.40 am to perform the mangala aarti. Soon, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel arrived to perform the “pahind” ceremony that involves cleaning the path of the three chariots with broom. As per age-old tradition, it is the CM of Gujarat who performs the ceremony.
Amid tight security at the temple premises and under the watchful eyes of drones deployed by the police, the three chariots started rolling from the temple premises at 6.57 am. By the time it reached Khamasa, a sea of devotees had already joined the procession.
In Surat, processions were taken out amid tight security. Officials figures say, 18 elephants, 101 trucks, 30 tableaus and 20 bhajan mandalis were part of the procession this year.
For maintaining law and order in Gujarat, 20,000 security personnel, including paramilitary forces, Seema Suraksha Bal, Indo Tibetan Border Security Force, Central Industrial Security Force were deployed. Also CCTV cameras, drone camera and hot air balloon cameras were also kept to watch the whole procession. In Udaipur, yatra passed through old city streets with full security arrangements. The yatra began at 3 pm from Jagadish ji temple and devotees dressed up in traditional Mewari attire.
In Kolkata, yatra draw huge crowds, people celebrate the day with much decorated chariots of Lord Jagannath, Goddess Subhadra and Lord Balabhadra were brought out for yatra. Bhubanseshwar in Oddisa, with huge congregation expected in Puri for Rath Yatra amid a rise in Covid cases, the state government has made face masks mandatory for people visiting the pilgrim city during the festival.
Rath Yatra in Bangladesh
Rath Yatra is one of the major festivals of Hindu in Bangladesh. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) has drawn up a nine day programme in Dhaka and it will end with Ulto Rath (reverse journey) celebrations. This is the 351st Rath Yatra at Dhamrai, and a Rathmela organised on the occasion will continue throughout the month. Devotees pulled the ropes of the chariots through different parts of city and rounded it up on the premises of Dhakeshwari temple. Special security measures were deployed at the place and there was no untoward incident.
