Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday, 16 July performed the traditional Pahand Vidhi at the historic Shree Jagannath Mandir in the Jamalpur area of Ahmedabad, ceremonially launching the city's 149th Jagannath Rath Yatra. The ritual marked the formal commencement of one of Gujarat's largest and most revered religious processions, drawing lakhs of devotees to the streets of Ahmedabad.

The Pahand Vidhi Ritual

The Pahand Vidhi is a centuries-old tradition in which the Chief Minister symbolically sweeps the path before the chariots using a golden broom, an act signifying humility and selfless service before Lord Jagannath. The ritual is performed just before the three sacred chariots — carrying the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra — depart the temple for their annual journey through the city.

Thousands of devotees gathered at the Shree Jagannath Mandir in the early hours to witness the ritual and the procession's commencement. Earlier in the morning, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah attended the Mangala Aarti and offered prayers at the temple before the deities were placed on the chariots.

Scale and Significance

The annual Rath Yatra is held on the occasion of Ashadhi Bij and begins from the nearly 400-year-old Shree Jagannath Mandir in Jamalpur, following its traditional route across Ahmedabad before the chariots return to the temple later in the day. Regarded as India's second-largest Jagannath Rath Yatra after the one in Puri, the procession draws lakhs of devotees annually.

This year's yatra features the three main chariots, 18 elephants, dozens of akhadas, devotional music groups, and elaborately decorated tableaux — a spectacle that reflects both deep religious fervour and centuries of cultural tradition.

Security and Civic Arrangements

Authorities have deployed more than 31,000 police and security personnel along the traditional 16.2-km route. The security apparatus is supported by artificial intelligence-enabled surveillance, facial recognition technology, drones, high-resolution CCTV cameras, and body-worn cameras to monitor the procession in real time.

Notably, this year has seen the introduction of special elephant monitoring systems, GPS trackers, and movement sensors — enhancements made in direct response to incidents involving elephants during last year's Rath Yatra.

Civic Infrastructure in Place

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and allied agencies have arranged sanitation, drinking water, medical services, emergency response, traffic management, and uninterrupted civic services along the route. Police have also established a multi-layered security grid across the entire 16.2-km corridor to ensure the safe and smooth conduct of the procession.

With its scale, heritage, and the participation of senior national leaders, Ahmedabad's Rath Yatra continues to affirm its standing as one of India's most significant religious gatherings — and the city will watch closely as the chariots complete their sacred journey through the day.