Amit Shah at Ahmedabad Jagannath Rath Yatra 2025: 'Special spiritual fulfilment'
Synopsis
Home Minister Amit Shah joined lakhs of devotees at Ahmedabad's 149th Jagannath Rath Yatra, performing the pre-dawn Mangala Aarti at the nearly 400-year-old Jamalpur temple — a procession considered India's second-largest after Puri. With 31,000 police and AI surveillance deployed across 16 km, the scale of the event underscores both its religious weight and its growing logistical complexity.
Key Takeaways
Amit Shah attended the Mangala Aarti at Shree Jagannath Temple, Ahmedabad on 16 July for the 149th Rath Yatra .
Shah posted on X that the moment brought him 'a special sense of spiritual fulfilment'.
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel performed the traditional Pahind Vidhi before the procession began.
The Ahmedabad Rath Yatra is considered India's second-largest after the one in Puri, Odisha .
More than 31,000 police personnel were deployed along the 16-km route, backed by drones and AI surveillance .
The temple in Jamalpur from which the yatra originates is nearly 400 years old .
Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Thursday, 16 July attended the pre-dawn Mangala Aarti at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Ahmedabad's Jamalpur area, marking the commencement of the 149th Jagannath Rath Yatra — regarded as the second-largest such procession in the country after the one held in Puri, Odisha. Shah said the ritual brought him 'a special sense of spiritual fulfilment'.
What Amit Shah Said
Sharing his experience on social media platform X after the early-morning ritual, Shah wrote: 'On the sacred occasion of Shri Jagannath Rath Yatra, I participated in the Mangala Aarti at the Shri Jagannath Temple in Ahmedabad and sought the blessings of Mahaprabhu. This moment, filled with devotion and faith, always brings a special sense of spiritual fulfilment.'
He added: 'I pray to Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath to continue showering His blessings upon everyone. Jai Jagannath!'
The Rituals and Key Participants
The Mangala Aarti is among the first ceremonies performed on Rath Yatra day, preceding the ceremonial departure of the chariots carrying the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel performed the traditional 'Pahind Vidhi' before the procession departed from the nearly 400-year-old temple. Thousands of devotees had gathered from the early hours to witness the rituals.
Scale of the 149th Rath Yatra
The 149th edition of the Ahmedabad Jagannath Rath Yatra is held on Ashadhi Bij, drawing lakhs of devotees along the traditional route every year. Authorities deployed more than 31,000 police personnel along the 16-km procession route, supplemented by drones, CCTV cameras, body-worn cameras, and AI-enabled surveillance systems.
Civic and Security Arrangements
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation coordinated traffic management, sanitation, medical assistance, and emergency response services to ensure the smooth conduct of the annual event. The extensive deployment reflects the scale and religious significance of a procession that consistently attracts one of the largest congregations in Gujarat.
With the 150th edition a year away, civic authorities are expected to use this year's operational experience to further scale both security and crowd management protocols.
Point of View
Second only to Puri in scale, offers a particularly prominent platform in Gujarat, the party's home state. What deserves equal attention is the operational story: deploying 31,000 personnel with AI-enabled surveillance for a single procession signals both the event's mass-participation scale and the state's growing appetite for technology-led crowd management — a model likely to be replicated at other large religious gatherings.
NationPress
16 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ahmedabad Jagannath Rath Yatra?
The Ahmedabad Jagannath Rath Yatra is an annual religious procession originating from the nearly 400-year-old Shree Jagannath Temple in Jamalpur, Ahmedabad. It is considered India's second-largest Rath Yatra after the one in Puri, Odisha, and draws lakhs of devotees each year.
Why did Amit Shah attend the Rath Yatra on 16 July 2025?
Amit Shah participated in the pre-dawn Mangala Aarti at the Shree Jagannath Temple to mark the beginning of the 149th Jagannath Rath Yatra, held on Ashadhi Bij. He said the experience brought him 'a special sense of spiritual fulfilment' and prayed for blessings for everyone.
What is the Mangala Aarti and Pahind Vidhi?
The Mangala Aarti is a pre-dawn worship ritual performed at the Jagannath Temple before the chariots depart on Rath Yatra day. The Pahind Vidhi is a traditional ceremonial sweeping performed before the procession begins; this year it was carried out by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel.
How large were the security arrangements for the 149th Rath Yatra?
Authorities deployed more than 31,000 police personnel along the 16-km procession route, supplemented by drones, CCTV cameras, body-worn cameras, and AI-enabled surveillance systems. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation also arranged traffic management, sanitation, medical aid, and emergency response.
How does the Ahmedabad Rath Yatra compare to the one in Puri?
The Ahmedabad Rath Yatra is widely regarded as the second-largest Rath Yatra in India, after the iconic annual procession in Puri, Odisha. Both festivals celebrate Lord Jagannath and attract massive congregations, though Puri's event holds the distinction of being the original and largest.
