As lakhs of devotees lined the streets of Ahmedabad on Thursday, 16 July for the city's 149th Jagannath Rath Yatra, the ceremonial elephants accompanying the procession carried something beyond sacred adornment — the hand-painted artwork of Zarna Panchal, a 21-year-old Fine Arts graduate who has quietly made elephant painting her form of devotion. While the three chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balram, and Goddess Subhadra rolled through the city's historic route, Panchal's intricate designs drew their own quiet admiration.

Four Years of Seva at Jamalpur Temple

Panchal has been volunteering — or, as she insists, serving as a sevak — at the historic Jagannath Temple in the Jamalpur area of Ahmedabad for the past four years. A resident of Vasna and a graduate of C.N. Fine Arts College, she initially contributed through flower garlands and rangoli before turning to elephant painting. 'I wanted my art to have its own identity and a place at the feet of Lord Jagannath. That's how I started painting for Lord Jagannath,' she said.

Over the years, she has worked on approximately five or six elephants, though the actual number may be higher. This year, she painted one elephant independently and assisted with two others, continuing a personal tradition she began at the age of 17.

The Craft: Designs Begin a Month Before the Procession

The artwork is far from spontaneous. Design selection begins nearly a month in advance, aligned with the rituals leading up to the Jal Yatra. The painting itself takes roughly one full day per elephant. Panchal's palette stays rooted in the festival's religious symbolism — chariots, the three deities, lotuses, and peacocks — rendered in red, yellow, and green, applied over white outlines. 'We first draw white outlines and then fill them with colour,' she explained.

Working on a living, moving canvas presents challenges that no Fine Arts curriculum anticipates. 'Sketching on paper depends on the mood of the artist; however, painting on an elephant depends on the elephant's mood,' she said. 'When they are playful, you have to play with them first, calm them down and then continue painting.'

From Fear to Familiarity: The Bond with the Elephants

Panchal admits her first encounters with the animals were intimidating. Over time, daily interaction transformed that fear into something closer to kinship. 'Initially, I was extremely scared. But I met them every day, and gradually we developed a bond. Now they recognise me and even recognise my voice. They are emotional with me. They are like my babies,' she said.

She has also become attuned to reading elephant behaviour — a skill she says comes only from sustained presence. 'Their eyes tell you a lot. Their sounds tell you whether they are happy. Even the way they move their tails gives you signs about their mood,' she noted. She urged festival-goers to be considerate: 'Thousands of people come close to the elephants throughout the day. They also get tired and irritated just as we do after a long day. Please listen to the mahouts.'

Security and the 'Gaj Rakshak' System at Rath Yatra 2025

This year's 149th Rath Yatra was also one of the most closely monitored in the festival's history. Authorities deployed more than 31,000 police personnel along the route, supported by drones, AI-enabled surveillance, facial recognition systems, and a central command network.

In a first for the festival, all 18 ceremonial elephants were tracked using the 'Gaj Rakshak' elephant monitoring system, which integrates GPS trackers, sound-monitoring sensors, and movement detectors to enhance both public safety and animal welfare. Police also urged devotees to keep children close and avoid spreading unverified information on social media.

The procession followed its customary route through the old city before returning to the Jagannath Temple in Jamalpur later in the day. The annual festival, one of Gujarat's largest religious events, drew attendees from across the state — and, this year, renewed attention to the quiet artistry that walks alongside the divine chariots.