The Impressive TimesThe 147th Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath commenced in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, early Sunday morning amidst a large gathering of devotees. Union Home Minister Amit Shah performed the ‘mangla aarti’ and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel conducted the ‘pahind vidhi’, symbolically cleaning the path with a golden broom, as the chariots began their journey from the 400-year-old Lord Jagannath temple in Jamalpur.
The procession, a traditional event held annually on Ashadhi Beej, is led by members of the Khalashi community pulling the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balbhadra, and Subhadra. Over 22,000 security personnel, including 4,500 on foot along the 16-km route and 1,931 managing traffic, have been deployed. The event also features 18 decorated elephants, 100 trucks, and 30 ‘akhadas’. Surveillance measures include 1,733 body-worn cameras, 20 drones, 96 surveillance cameras, and monitoring of 1,400 CCTV cameras installed by local shopkeepers.
Medical readiness includes 16 ambulances and medical teams stationed at five government hospitals to address any emergencies. The Rath Yatra traditionally concludes by 8 pm after passing through various localities in Ahmedabad’s Old City, including sensitive areas.
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