Annual Rath Yatra In Odisha Begins From Today; Amit Shah Offers Prayers At Lord Jagannath Temple In Ahmedabad

Jagannath Rath Yatra is organised at Puri in Odisha. It is believed that Lord Jagannath every year wishes to visit his birthplace. This 10-day festival has begins from July 4.

Annual Jagannath Rath Yatra: The 142nd Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra has begun in Odisha from today. (Getty images)

Annual Jagannath Rath Yatra: The 142nd Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra has begun in Odisha from today. The world-famous Rath Yatra is among the most celebrated festivals in India in which the Jagannath temple deities are taken out in their chariots which are pulled in a traditional ceremony by thousands of people towards Gundicha temple and then back to the main Jagannath temple. Jagannath Rath Yatra is organised at Puri in Odisha. It is believed that Lord Jagannath every year wishes to visit his birthplace. This 10-day festival has begins from July 4. On Thursday, the nine-day annual chariot festival began amid tight security cover put in place along the different localities in the city, through which the procesion will pass through after commencing from the Lord Jagannath Temple in Jamalpur locality. The about 450-year-old temple is famed for its Rath Yatra, which is counted among the third most important and largest after the Ratha Yatra at Puri.

Odisha: Sand art on the theme of Jagannath Rath Yatra created at Puri beach. Jagannath Rath Yatra to commence today. pic.twitter.com/PZ8fBrCl6f

— ANI (@ANI) July 4, 2019

Home Minister Amit Shah in the early hours of Thursday participated in a 'Mangala Aarti' at the historic Jagannath Temple in Ahmedabad, Gujarat ahead of the annual Rath Yatra. Clad in a white shirt and yellow overcoat, Shah who was accompanied by his wife Sonal Shah offered prayers to Lord Jagannath.

Gujarat: Home Minister Amit Shah and his wife Sonal Shah offer prayers at Lord Jagannath Temple in Ahmedabad, ahead of Rath Yatra. pic.twitter.com/TL9SFz0fAa

— ANI (@ANI) July 3, 2019

The Odisha government has deployed 10,000 security personnel in this holy town for the annual festival which will be attended by lakhs of people on Thursday. Anticipating a congregation of around 10 lakh devotees on the Rath Yatra day, 10,000 strong force have been deployed on the ground, while personnel of Indian Navy and Coast Guard will patrol in the sea, the official said. Watch | All you need to know about Jagannath Ratha-Yatra As many as 142 platoons of Odisha police, about 1,000 officers of various ranks, 2,450 Home Guards, three company of RAF, two units of ODRAF, one unit NDRF, three company OSAF besides eight anti-sabotage teams, a bomb disposal squad with sniffer dogs have been deployed in Puri, the official said. Apart from police, different state government departments like health, urban and housing development department, sanitation and others are doing their best to make the occasion a grand success, said Mohapatra. The three deities - Lord Balabhadra, Lord Jagannath and Devi Subhadra's chariots will be pulled by the devotees in presence of lakhs of people on the grand road. (with inputs from agencies)