Gujarat: CM performs 'Pahand Vidhi' as Jagannath Rath Yatra begins

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday performed the traditional Pahand Vidhi at the historic Shree Jagannath Mandir in Ahmedabad's Jamalpur area, marking the ceremonial start of the city's 149th Jagannath Rath Yatra.
The Chief Minister carried out the centuries-old ritual of symbolically sweeping the path before the chariots with a golden broom, a gesture that signifies humility and selfless service before Lord Jagannath.The Pahand Vidhi is performed before the three chariots carrying the idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra begin their annual journey through the city. Thousands of devotees gathered at the temple in the early hours to witness the ritual and the commencement of one of Gujarat's largest religious processions.
Earlier in the day, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah attended the Mangala Aarti and offered prayers at the temple before the deities were ceremonially placed on the chariots.Held on the occasion of Ashadhi Bij, the annual Rath Yatra begins from the nearly 400-year-old Shree Jagannath Mandir in Jamalpur and follows its traditional 16.2-km route across Ahmedabad before returning to the temple later in the day.

STORY | Jagannath Yatra begins in Ahmedabad amid high security; Amit Shah, CM Patel perform rituals

The 149th Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath rolled out in Ahmedabad on Thursday morning under heavy security, with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel performing the traditional… https://t.co/6mVfg2h6i3

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 16, 2026

Considered India's second-largest Jagannath Rath Yatra after Puri, the procession attracts lakhs of devotees every year. This year's yatra features the three main chariots, 18 elephants, dozens of akhadas, devotional music groups and elaborately decorated tableaux.Authorities have made elaborate security and civic arrangements for the smooth conduct of the procession.
More than 31,000 police and security personnel have been deployed along the route, backed by artificial intelligence-enabled surveillance, facial recognition technology, drones, high-resolution CCTV cameras and body-worn cameras for real-time monitoring.Following incidents involving elephants during last year's procession, special elephant monitoring systems, GPS trackers and movement sensors have also been introduced to enhance safety.The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, along with other civic agencies, has ensured arrangements for sanitation, drinking water, medical assistance, emergency response, traffic management and uninterrupted public services, while police have established a multi-layered security grid across the procession route.

(State Correspondent)