Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Thursday participated in two Jagannath Rath Yatra processions organised in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar district on the occasion of Ashadhi Bij, flagging off the fifth Rath Yatra of the Jagannath Temple at Adalaj and later inaugurating the 19th Rath Yatra organised by SGVP Gurukul in Memnagar.
The Chief Minister came to the Jagannath Temple in Adalaj, where he performed the traditional 'Pahind Vidhi' with a golden broom in accordance with Vedic rituals before flagging off the temple's fifth Rath Yatra. He also offered the Mangala Aarti to Lord Jagannath.
Before the procession commenced, the temple administration welcomed Patel with a floral garland and a traditional turban. Large numbers of devotees gathered from early morning to offer prayers to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra, while chants of "Jai Jagannath" echoed through the temple premises.
The Adalaj Rath Yatra, organised for the past five years by the Shri Jagannath Cultural Academy and Research Centre, follows a route from the temple through Shani Temple, Uvarsad Bridge, and Adalaj Circle before returning to the temple later in the evening.
Among those present at Adalaj were Gandhinagar Mayor Mira Patel, former Rajya Sabha member Narhari Amin, former civil servants, political and social leaders, and members of Gujarat's Odia community, who offered prayers during the ceremony.
Later in the day, Patel travelled to SGVP Gurukul in Memnagar, where he flagged off the institution's 19th Jagannath Rath Yatra. He offered prayers before the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra, performed the Maha Aarti in accordance with Vedic rituals, and formally inaugurated the procession in the presence of saints and other dignitaries.
According to the officials, the Chief Minister prayed for the happiness, peace, and prosperity of the people before flagging off the three chariots. Ahmedabad Mayor Hitesh Barot was also present. The SGVP Gurukul Rath Yatra formed part of celebrations marking the 125th birth anniversary of Param Pujya Shastri Maharaj Shri Dharmajivandas Swami and the golden jubilee year of Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul, Memnagar.
The chariots were decorated with spiritual-themed tableaux. The procession travelled along an approximately seven-kilometre route through Memnagar and surrounding areas before returning to the Gurukul campus in the evening.
The flag-off ceremony at Memnagar was attended by Sadguru Purani Balakrishnadas Swami, city president Prerak Shah, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation Water Supply Committee chairman Dharamshi Desai, local councillors, saints, community leaders, and a large number of devotees.
The events formed part of wider Ashadhi Bij celebrations across Gujarat, with Jagannath Rath Yatras being organised at several locations alongside the state's main annual procession from the historic Jagannath Temple in Ahmedabad.