The Gujarat police heaved a sigh of relief as the 138th Rath Yatra of lord Jagannath completed peacefully here on Saturday around 9 pm. The police personnel were on their toes, as biggest festival of Muslims Eid-ul-Fitr was also on the same day.
The Rath Yatra, conducted on the auspicious day of Ashadhi Bij every year as per the Hindu calendar, was flagged off on Saturday early morning by Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel. The Rath Yatra of lord Jagannath, the chariot procession of the lord, His Brother Balbhadra and Sister Subhadra initiated from the historic Jagannath Temple situated at Jamalpura area here.
It was for the second time that she performed the sacred ritual of ‘pahind’ with gold ‘chaamar’ as the State’s first woman Chief Minister. The annual chariot procession is traditionally flagged off by the Chief Minister. The chariot is pulled by host of disciples through the streets of the ancient walled city, past a sea of people lining the entire route.
The Chief Minister said that the Rath Yatra is an occasion for creating social awareness for peace, harmony and development. Patel also extended Eid greetings and wished Asadhi Bij New Year of the Kutchchis. She also prayed for the blessings of the lord Jagannath for early and adequate rains in Gujarat. The monsoon hit the State late this year and has been playing truant since then. The head priest of Jagannath Temple Mahant Dilipdasji blessed the Chief Minister to serve the people and perform good governance.
According to a senior official deployed to monitor Rathyatra, overall peace and harmony was maintained just like previous 14 years and not a single untoward incident registered. The Rath Yatra travelled almost 18 km in the different parts of city for more than 13 hours that include communally sensitive areas. large number of devotees participated in the procession and followed three specially designed chariots. leaders of both the communities greeted each other. In fact Muslims greeted the Rathyatra in various areas and Hindu devotees too reciprocated with 'Eid Mubarak' gave best wishes to them.
Muslim leader Hasan lala felicitated Mahant Dilipdasji of Jagannath temple in communally sensitive Dariyapur area. On the other hand Mahant also donated `2100 to Begali Masjid to mark the Eid festivities. Even Muslims were seen offering Rs. 10 to Hindu children as 'Eidi' (small donations offer on Eid by Muslims) during the Rathyatra.
The procession comprised 18 elephants, 100 trucks, 30 religious congregations, 18 singing troupes and seven cars apart from three chariots. Apart from over 20,000 police and Para military personnel, four Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) were deployed on the route of Rathyatra to maintain peace. Besides, more than 50 CCTV cameras were installed at strategic points. First time ever, 'Night Vision Binoculars' used for marine security was also used in this Rathyatra.
After Jagannath Puri in Odisha, the Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad is considered as the second biggest in the country. In the past, many times communal riots erupted in Ahmedabad and parts of Gujarat during Rathyatra. However, after 2002 communal riots, the Rath Yatra is being conducted peacefully. In Gujarat Rath Yatra of lord Jagannath organised in more than 130 places including PM Narendra Modi's hometown Vadnagar.