Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel leads Maha Aarti ahead of 149th Jagannath Rath Yatra
Synopsis
On the eve of Ahmedabad's 149th Jagannath Rath Yatra, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel led the Maha Aarti at the historic Jagannath Temple in Jamalpur, invoking Lord Jagannath as 'Daridra Narayan' and calling for social harmony. The procession — one of India's largest outside Puri — rolls out Thursday under drone surveillance and heavy civic cover.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel participated in the Maha Aarti at Jagannath Temple, Ahmedabad on 15 July , the eve of the Rath Yatra.
The 149th Jagannath Rath Yatra is scheduled for Thursday, 16 July , starting from the Jamalpur area.
Patel described the festival of Ashadhi Bij as a celebration of 'harmony, service, devotion and cultural unity.' Senior BJP leaders, MPs, MLAs, and top civic officials including Ahmedabad Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut attended the ceremony.
Authorities have deployed drone monitoring , technology-assisted surveillance, and traffic management for the procession.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel participated in the Maha Aarti at the historic Jagannath Temple in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, 15 July, offering prayers for the well-being and prosperity of the state on the eve of the 149th Jagannath Rath Yatra. The evening ceremony drew senior political figures, temple authorities, and a large gathering of devotees ahead of one of Gujarat's largest annual religious processions.
What the Chief Minister Said
Addressing the gathering, Patel described the festival of Ashadhi Bij as a celebration of 'harmony, service, devotion and cultural unity.' He invoked Lord Jagannath as 'Daridra Narayan' — a form associated with compassion toward the poor and labouring classes — saying the Rath Yatra carries a message of service to the underprivileged while reinforcing values of humanity integral to Indian culture.
'Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra is a symbol of Gujarat's proud tradition, cultural heritage and social unity,' Patel said. He appealed to citizens to observe the occasion in a spirit of brotherhood, mutual affection, and social harmony, and urged people to embrace Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mantra of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas' in working toward a prosperous Gujarat.
Who Attended the Maha Aarti
The ceremony was attended by a cross-section of political and civic leadership. Among those present were Jagannath Temple Mahant Dilipdas Maharaj, state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Jagdish Vishwakarma, State Urban Development Minister Darshana Vaghela, Members of Parliament Dinesh Makwana and Hasmukh Patel, and former Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel.
City BJP president Prerak Shah, MLAs Amit Shah, Kaushik Jain, Amul Bhatt, Hasmukh Patel, Kanchan Radadiya, Dineshsinh Kushwaha, and Payal Kukrani were also present, along with Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani and Ahmedabad Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut.
About the 149th Rath Yatra
The 149th Jagannath Rath Yatra is scheduled for Thursday, 16 July, commencing from the Jagannath Temple in the Jamalpur area of Ahmedabad following traditional rituals. The procession will travel its customary route through the city before returning to the temple in the evening.
Notably, the Ahmedabad Rath Yatra ranks among the largest of its kind outside Puri in Odisha, drawing hundreds of thousands of devotees annually. This year's edition continues a tradition stretching back nearly a century and a half.
Security and Civic Arrangements
Authorities have put in place extensive arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the procession. These include technology-assisted surveillance, drone monitoring, and dedicated traffic management measures across the route. The scale of deployment reflects the event's significance as one of Gujarat's largest public gatherings of the year.
With preparations complete and senior officials on ground, the 149th Rath Yatra is set to proceed under tight but facilitative security cover on Thursday.
Point of View
MPs, and MLAs — underscores how the Jagannath Rath Yatra has become as much a political moment as a religious one in Gujarat. Invoking 'Daridra Narayan' and Modi's 'Sabka Saath' mantra in the same breath is a deliberate framing: it positions the BJP as the custodian of both devotion and inclusive development ahead of what remains a symbolically charged public event. The real measure of the occasion, however, will be the administration's ability to manage a procession of this scale safely — something the extensive security deployment signals is being taken seriously.
NationPress
16 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad?
The Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad is an annual chariot procession originating from the Jagannath Temple in the Jamalpur area, considered one of India's largest such events outside Puri in Odisha. The 2025 edition marks the 149th consecutive procession, drawing hundreds of thousands of devotees through the city.
When is the 149th Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad?
The 149th Jagannath Rath Yatra is scheduled for Thursday, 16 July 2025, beginning from the Jagannath Temple in Jamalpur, Ahmedabad, following traditional rituals. The procession will travel its customary route and return to the temple by evening.
Why did Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel attend the Maha Aarti?
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel participated in the Maha Aarti on the eve of the Rath Yatra to offer prayers for the state's well-being and to address devotees. He used the occasion to invoke the festival's themes of social harmony and compassion toward the underprivileged.
What security arrangements are in place for the Rath Yatra?
Authorities have deployed technology-assisted surveillance, drone monitoring, and dedicated traffic management measures along the procession route. The scale of arrangements reflects the event's status as one of Gujarat's largest annual public gatherings.
Who attended the Maha Aarti at Jagannath Temple on 15 July?
The Maha Aarti was attended by Temple Mahant Dilipdas Maharaj, BJP state president Jagdish Vishwakarma, Urban Development Minister Darshana Vaghela, MPs, MLAs, former Deputy CM Nitin Patel, Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani, and Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut, among a large number of devotees.
