The 141st rath yatra of Lord Jagannath began on the morning of 14 July in Ahmedabad, Gujarat amid tight security as lakhs of devotees flocked to the 18 km route to catch a glimpse of the deities.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel performed 'Pahind Vidhi' – a symbolic ritual of cleaning the way for the chariots using a golden broom.
In Ahmedabad, the procession is guarded under the strict watch of over 20,200 personnel drawn from the city police, Home Guards, the State Reserve Police (SRP) and the para military forces.
The procession will pass through the Old City, including some communally sensitive areas like Jamalpur, Kalupur, Shahpur and Dariyapur.
It is a popular belief that, anyone who gets to pull the cart in the procession, washes away all the sins they may have committed in their previous births.
Devotees Gather for the Oldest Rath Yatra in Puri
Meanwhile, millions of devotees descended at Odisha’s Puri to celebrate the oldest rath yatra festival in the world. On the occasion, the devotees pull three colourfully decorated chariots of the three deities Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra.
The devotees hold their resilience despite heavy rainfall in Puri.
(With inputs from PTI)
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