Tech Meets Tradition: 148th Rath Yatra to roll out today
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balbhadra, and Subhadra will begin their 18-km journey from the Jagannath Temple in Jamalpur at 7 am.
With rain forecast by the weather department, temple trust authorities have installed a large protective dome over the chariots to shield them until the yatra begins.
City police, in coordination with paramilitary forces, have deployed around 24,000 personnel along the procession route.
In a first, the police will use an AI-based crowd monitoring tool developed by a local startup. The software will analyse live CCTV footage to detect crowd density and alert authorities if limits are exceeded.
Over 300 CCTV cameras and nearly 60 drones will monitor the event, while many police officers will wear body cameras. The live surveillance feed will be tracked from a central control room at the city police commissioner's office.
Additionally, GPS devices fitted on the three chariots will help officials track their real-time location.
"A mobile monitoring van will also be used to process live footage. Rath yatra has long served as a platform to pilot cutting-edge policing technologies. This year, trainee officers will observe the deployment as part of their field training," said a senior police official.
Around 1,000 traffic police personnel will be deployed, supported by 23 cranes, 240 terrace points, and 25 watch towers.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Authorities have installed 44 public address systems and set up 17 public health booths along the route. Of 484 identified dangerous buildings, residents will be urged not to climb them. AFES and EMRI 108 vehicles will be strategically positioned to handle any emergencies.
As tradition has it, the deities returned from their maternal uncle's home on Thursday and had their eyes covered before the main procession on Friday.
Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel, accompanied by senior city and state officials, performed the evening aarti at the temple.
On Friday, the CM will perform the symbolic 'Pahind Vidhi', the ritual of sweeping the road to mark the beginning of the yatra.
Preparations by truck associations and participating groups have also concluded. This year, several tableaux are expected to feature themes related to 'Operation Sindoor' and the recent AI 171 plane crash.
Pankaj Purani, an akhada member, said that this year, about five girls will participate in the procession and will show their prowess in martial arts. "For the past couple of years, girls have started participating even as it becomes physically demanding to be on the road for the entire day. We have also seen enthusiastic participation from akhada members," he said.
Box: 213 rath yatras across Gujarat
According to the Director General of Police (DGP) office in Gandhinagar, a total of 213 rath yatra processions will take place across Gujarat on Friday.
The DGP's office will coordinate with district police units to ensure smooth and secure conduct of these processions. In Ahmedabad alone, 10 separate processions have been scheduled in various parts of the city, including western areas, by organisations such as ISKCON, Swaminarayan Gurukul, and Tripada School.
Other major cities, including Bhavnagar, will also host multiple rath yatras, drawing large crowds.
Box: Saraspur's mega kitchens to feed 2L devotees
Saraspur, revered as the 'maternal home' of the three deities, is ready to welcome lakhs of devotees. The neighbourhood will feed nearly 2 lakh people as part of the annual tradition. Over the years, several new Pols and societies have joined the initiative, making it a collective celebration of devotion.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
a minute ago
- The Hindu
Birla, Harivansh flag poor productivity, slam Opposition for disruptions as Monsoon Session ends
The stormy Monsoon Session of Parliament ended on Thursday (August 21, 2025) with the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh blaming the Opposition for repeated disruptions. Follow Parliament Monsoon session Day 21 highlights The session began with the abrupt resignation of Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on July 21 and ended with Union Home Minister Amit Shah moving a resolution to appoint a joint select committee to study crucial amendments to the Constitution proposing automatic cessation of office if a Prime Minister or a Chief Minister spends 31 days in custody. Throughout the session, the Opposition protested, demanding a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and the alleged 'vote theft' in the Lok Sabha and recent Assembly elections. The demand for adjournment motions on the issue was rejected, leading to disruptions in both the Houses. The Upper House functioned for only 41 hours and 15 minutes, while the Lok Sabha could work only for 37 hours this session. In their concluding remarks, Mr. Birla and Mr. Harivansh criticised the Opposition members for their behaviour. 'Despite the best efforts of the Chair to facilitate meaningful and disruption-free discussions on the listed business, this session was regrettably marred by repeated disruptions, leading to frequent adjournments. This not only resulted in the loss of precious parliamentary time but also deprived us of the opportunity to deliberate upon several matters of public importance,' Mr. Harivansh said. The Deputy Chairman said the productivity of the Monsoon Session stood at 38.88%, something that calls for serious introspection. 'Members had the opportunity to raise 285 Questions, 285 Zero Hour submissions, and 285 Special Mentions. However, only 14 Questions, seven Zero Hour submissions, and 61 Special Mentions could actually be taken up,' he said, adding that while these contributions are of value, they represent only a fraction of what this House is capable of achieving when it functions to its full potential. During the Session, the Rajya Sabha passed or returned as many as 15 Government Bills. Lok Sabha saw the introduction of 14 Bills of which 12 were passed. Both the Houses discussed Operation Sindoor and the Lok Sabha debated the achievements of India's space programme. Mr. Birla said the members had all decided at the beginning of the session that the House will have 120 hours of discussion and dialogue. 'The Business Advisory Committee also agreed to this. But due to continuous deadlock and planned disruptions, we could barely work for 37 hours in this session,' he said in his valedictory address. In this session, 419 starred questions were included in the agenda, but due to disruptions, only 55 questions could be taken up for oral answers. Mr. Birla said that 'as public representatives, the entire country watches our conduct and functioning'. 'The public has great expectations from us that we have serious and meaningful discussions on their problems and issues of wider public interest, on important Bills, in accordance with the decorum of Parliament,' he said. 'It is the responsibility of all of us to cooperate in building healthy traditions in the House. In this dignified House, we should avoid sloganeering and disruption and take forward serious and meaningful discussions. As Members of Parliament, we should set an example before the country and the world through our work and behaviour. Our language in the House and the Parliament premises should always be restrained and decent'. 'Agreement and disagreement are a natural process of democracy, but our collective effort should be that the House runs with dignity, decorum and decency. We have to think about what message we are sending to the citizens through the country's highest democratic institution. I am sure that all the political parties and honourable members will seriously think and introspect on this issue,' he said.
NDTV
32 minutes ago
- NDTV
Perpetrator Of Terror Can't Be Equated With Victim: Centre On Pak In House
New Delhi: The Indian government has made it clear that Pakistan, the perpetrator of terrorism, "cannot be equated" with India, the victim of cross-border terrorism, the Centre told Parliament on Thursday. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said this in a written response to queries in the Rajya Sabha. The Ministry of External Affairs was asked how the government has countered claims of "India-Pakistan hyphenation in global diplomacy" and the diplomatic measures taken by the government to address "China's growing influence over Pakistan" in terms of intelligence and military cooperation. "The government of India has made it clear that the perpetrator of terrorism, i.e., Pakistan, cannot be equated with the victim of cross-border terrorism, i.e., India. This unequivocal message was consistently reiterated during interactions with interlocutors in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor," Singh said. The seven all-party delegations, which visited various global capitals in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, also "emphatically conveyed" the above message while demonstrating India's strong national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, the MoS said. "The issue of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, was taken up with the Chinese Foreign Minister during his recent visit to India," he added. The MEA was also asked how the government plans to strengthen India's foreign policy narrative in 2025-2026. "The global community widely acknowledges India's robust democracy, economic progress, military might, technological prowess, civilisational heritage, and its contribution in addressing global issues," Singh said. The government's engagement with various stakeholders, including think-tanks and academic and research institutions, serves to highlight India's foreign policy achievements and priorities, he said. "Government undertakes a series of targeted public diplomacy initiatives to carry forward India's message to the world and continues to make all endeavours to further strengthen India's voice in global affairs. "It also constantly monitors all developments having a bearing on India's security and national interest and takes all required steps in this regard," Singh said.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
2025 Monsoon Session of Parliament: Lok Sabha passed 12 bills, Rajya Sabha 14 in amid Opposition protests
Twelve bills were passed by the Lok Sabha and 14 by the Rajya Sabha during the month-long monsoon session of Parliament, which has witnessed repeated disruptions, adjournments and walkouts. Barring discussions on Operation Sindoor in both Houses, the session has seen little business ever since it began on July 21, 2025 due to repeated disruptions and adjournments initially due to opposition demand for discussion on Operation Sindoor and then over demands for a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision exercise in Bihar. The session concluded on Thursday (August 21, 2025). Bills passed by the Lok Sabha: Bills passed or returned by the Rajya Sabha: 'This time in Parliament, there was so much ruckus and opposition didn't cooperate. Due to this obstinate behaviour, opposition missed participating in discussions on several important bills which were passed,' a government functionary said. In the Rajya Sabha, except for The Bills of Lading Bill, 2025, which was passed without any disruption on the first day of the monsoon session, the other bills were passed after some discussion amid din or only after the Opposition parties staged a walk out, the functionary said. (With inputs from PTI)
