Ahmedabad Hosts 149th Jagannath Rath Yatra Amid Tight Security

Ahmedabad, July 2026 : The 149th annual Jagannath Rath Yatra commenced with great religious fervour from the historic Shree Jagannath Mandir in Ahmedabad’s Jamalpur area on Thursday, drawing thousands of devotees who gathered in the early hours to witness one of Gujarat’s most significant spiritual celebrations.

The temple complex was beautifully decorated with colourful lights and flowers, creating a festive atmosphere as devotees arrived well before sunrise to offer prayers and seek blessings before the ceremonial departure of the three chariots carrying Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra. The annual procession, held on the auspicious occasion of Ashadhi Bij, is regarded as the second-largest Jagannath Rath Yatra in India after the world-famous festival in Puri, Odisha.

To ensure the smooth and peaceful conduct of the event, authorities implemented elaborate security arrangements across Ahmedabad. Personnel from the Ahmedabad Police, Rapid Action Force (RAF), State Reserve Police and other security agencies were deployed at strategic locations along the yatra route. Advanced surveillance systems, including drones, CCTV cameras and artificial intelligence-enabled monitoring, were also pressed into service to keep a close watch on the massive gathering.

Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi said all preparations had been completed well before the start of the procession.

“Preparations for the 149th Rath Yatra have been completed. It is around 2:30 a.m., and as you can see, the streets of Ahmedabad are still filled with thousands of youths and elderly people chanting ‘Jai Jagannath’. Preparations are underway in every lane to serve prasadi to Lord Jagannath’s devotees,” Sanghavi said.

The spiritual fervour was evident among devotees, many of whom had travelled from different parts of Gujarat and neighbouring states to participate in the grand event.

A first-time visitor expressed happiness at witnessing the historic procession. “I have come here for the first time to witness the Rath Yatra. My family, Laddu Gopal, and I have all come for the darshan,” the devotee said.

Another pilgrim shared similar emotions, saying, “I felt immense joy. Today, for the first time, I had the opportunity to have the darshan of Lord Jagannath in this way.”

Several regular devotees also arrived long before dawn to secure a place along the procession route. “We have been here since 3:30 a.m. We come here every year in the morning for the Rath Yatra,” one of them said.

Before the commencement of the procession, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah visited the temple and performed the traditional Mangala Aarti, offering prayers to Lord Jagannath. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel carried out the customary Pahind Vidhi, symbolically sweeping the path ahead of the chariots with a golden broom, a ritual that signifies humility and service before the deities begin their journey.

The grand procession follows its traditional route through various parts of Ahmedabad before returning to the temple later in the day. Along the route, numerous social and religious organisations have arranged drinking water, food and prasadi for the lakhs of devotees expected to participate.

This year’s Rath Yatra is being conducted under an extensive multi-layered security framework involving more than 31,000 police personnel, making it one of the most closely monitored editions of the historic religious procession.