This Article is From Jul 03, 2011

Devotees pour in for Jagannath yatra

Puri and Ahmedabad: Thousands of devotees are pouring in from all corners of the country and even abroad to take part in the grand spectacle of the annual Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri and Ahmedabad, that takes place today.

The 134th Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath began in Ahmedabad from the 400-year-old Jagannath temple in Jamalpur area amidst tight security as devotees jostled to have the first glimpse of the deity.

Following the tradition, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi did the symbolic 'road cleaning' ahead of passage of chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balram and their sister, Subhadra.

"With Lord Jagannath's blessing the country and Gujarat would prosper. The lord will bless the under-privileged, the state, and the farmers of Gujarat with rains," he said.

He noted that Lord Jagannath's Rathyatra is taken out at 110 places in Gujarat, and the procession in Ahmedabad has the longest tradition.

A local priest, Mahant Dilipdas Maharaj (37), is presiding over the Lord's journey this year.

In keeping with a century-old tradition, elephants had the first glimpse of Lord Jagannath, and they would lead the procession along its 14-km route in Ahmedabad.

In Puri, the administration is expecting a crowd of over one million people to throng the temple city. Steps have been taken to control the crowd at strategic points to prevent any stampede from taking place.

Rath Yatra or chariot festival is celebrated by Hindus on the second day of Sukla Paksha (waxing cycle of moon) in the month of Ashadh.

The yatra is an annual feature in Gujarat and is taken on the day of 'Ashadh Beej', a day, on which, the famous Puri Rath Yatra is also taken out. According to reports, an elderly person died of suffocation at Puri.

(With PTI Inputs)
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