HUGE SECURITY FOR RATHYATRA IN AHMEDABAD; SHAH TO PERFORM RITUAL: OFFICIALS
AHMEDABAD: As many as 25,000 security personnel will be deployed on the route of the forthcoming Lord Jagannath rathyatra in Ahmedabad in which lakhs of people are likely to participate after a gap of two years without Covid-19 restrictions, officials said on Wednesday. Union home minister Amit Shah will perform the Mangla Aarti at the temple on July 1 around 4 am before the chariots of the deities roll out.
In normal times, lakhs of people gather along the route of the rathyatra on the day of ‘Ashadhi Beej’ to catch a glimpse of deities and the procession, which includes decorated elephants and several tableaux. Traditionally, the procession, led by chariots, starts around 7 am on ‘Ashadhi Beej’ from the 400year-old temple in the Jamalpur area of the city and returns by 8 pm after passing through the Old City, including some communally sensitive areas.
“With lakhs of people from across Gujarat are expected to attend the 145th Lord Jagannath Rathyatra here on July 1, at least 25,000 security personnel will be deployed on the entire route in the city to thwart any untoward incident,” officials said.
Union home minister Amit Shah will perform the Mangla Aarti at the temple on July 1 at around 4 am, temple trustee Mahendra Jha said, adding that the ‘mangla aarti’ tradition has been followed for many years. Chariots of Lord Jagannath, his brother Lord Balbhadra and sister Subhadra will leave the temple premises around 7 am.
As many as 25,000 personnel of police, reserve police and Central armed police will be deployed at strategic locations to guard the rath yatra.