Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel will become first woman to perform ‘Pahind Vidhi’ in the 137 years history of Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad on Sunday. ‘Pahind Vidhi’ is the religious ritual to kick-start Rath Yatra.
Traditionally, Chief Minister of Gujarat performs ‘Pahind Vidhi’, a ritual witness by hundreds of thousand people live on television as well as at the venue. In the ritual, the Chief Minister cleans the lord Jagannath’s Chariot path with a golden broom.“On Sunday, Anandiben will create history to become first woman to perform Pahind Vidhi. Since last 136 years no female had this honour to perform Pahind Vidhi,” said a Jagannath temple priest.
Besides Patel, another woman Union Minister for Human Resource Development Smriti Irani will also remain present as the chief guest. Confirming the development Mahendra Jha, trustee of Jagannath Temple said that this is first time that a chief guest, that too a lady has been invited.
“Narendra Modi had performed the ‘Pahind Vidhi’ for 12 years in row when he was the Chief Minister of the State before he took over as the country’s Prime Minister last month,” Jha said adding that Modi’s association with the temple has been longest in the history of Rath Yatra.“We have sent him an invite to attend the Rath Yatra this time. Obviously he couldn’t attend this time as it’s just over a month he took the charge as the Prime Minister of country,” he added.
The Rath Yatra will start from the 400-year-old Jagannath Temple in Jamalpur area at around 7 am and pass through about 18-km-long route before returning late in the night to the same venue.
Gujarat Muslims to welcome yatra in minority pockets
Post-2002 communal riots in Gujarat, there have been not a single incident of communal unrest during Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad. Apart from extra precautions taken by the police, the people from both the communities have come forward to maintain communal harmony during the festivities.
“For last few years, peace has been maintained during Rath Yatra. The procession is greeted by Muslim community leaders. This time too we will welcome Rath Yatra wholeheartedly. In fact, we have been part of this celebration,” said Yaqub Malek, member of Shahpur Shanti Samiti. Many from minority dominated areas also expressed keenness to join Rath Yatra, informed a source in Ahmedabad police.