Bhubaneswar: Home Minister Amit Shah performed ‘Mangal Aarti’ at Shri Jagannathji Temple in Ahmedabad ahead of the 145th Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra beginning today (Friday). The Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath is celebrated all over the country.
Shah reached Shri Jagannathji Temple in Ahmedabad at around 4 am. The temple priest said that the ‘mangala aarti’ tradition has been going on for years. The chariots of Lord Jagannath, his brother Lord Balabhadra and sister Subhadra will leave the temple premises.
On the other hand, today the world famous Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath will be taken out in Puri, Odisha. More than 10 lakh people are expected to participate in the Rath Yatra. Elaborate security arrangements have been made in Puri from the temple to the Rath Yatra route and other important places. CCTVs have been installed to keep a watch on every activity. Sharp shooters have been deployed on the buildings on both sides of the Bardand (the road in front of the Jagannath temple).
Sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik has made 125 sand chariots in view of Jagannath Rath Yatra. Patnaik said that this time 125 sand chariots have been made to mark the holy Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath. This will be our new world record.
Earlier, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav along with Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday night inspected the preparations for Jagannath Rath Yatra at Puri railway station.
After two years due to the corona epidemic, devotees will get the virtue of having a direct darshan of the charioteer and pulling the chariot. Jagannath Dham is completely devotional. Shree Jagannath Swami Nayan Path is resonating with the cheers of Gami Bhava Tume. The administration has made three-tier security arrangements. There is a tight guard of security in water, land and sky. Air force helicopters are also seen circling over the sea. Coastguard personnel are stationed at the beach.