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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Tech Meets Tradition: 148th Rath Yatra to roll out today
Ahmedabad: The Lord Jagannath's 148th Rath Yatra will roll out on the streets of Ahmedabad on Friday morning, with elaborate security arrangements and new-age technology in place to ensure a smooth and safe procession. 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.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
Chariot procession, ‘aarti' mark first day of Jagannath Rath Yatra
Varanasi: With the boarding of the idols of Lord Jagannath, Balbhadra, and Subhadra on a palanquin at Assi temple for the 'nagar bhraman' (city tour) on Thursday late afternoon, the five-day Rath Yatra festival celebrations started in the city. Following a night stay at Beniram Bagh, the deities will boarded onto the 'rath' (chariot) on Friday morning. Amidst tight security arrangements, the traditional chariot procession of deities started from Assi temple. According to organisers, Rath Yatra Mela is one such rare festival when gods come out of their sanctum sanctorum and make a tour of the city to meet their devotees. Before reaching Beniram Bagh at night, aartis of deities were also performed at many places. For this Rath Yatra Mela, which is considered a replica of Puri's Rath Yatra and celebrated annually in Kashi since 1802, makeshift shops of colourful artefacts, handicrafts, toys and balloons, as well as the special attractions—the seasonal cookie shops called 'nankhatai'—mushroomed in the yatra area and roads leading to it. While a temporary control room for over 80 CCTV cameras installed to monitor the fair area was set up, the deployment of a heavy police force at the Rath Yatra area also started by Thursday late night. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo In view of the fair, the route diversion plan also became effective. ADCP (traffic) Anshuman Mishra said that this arrangement will be in effect daily between 4 pm and 3 am until June 30. As per the diversion plan, vehicles coming from BHU and Bhelupur towards Rath Yatra will be diverted from Kamachha to reach their destination via Akashvani and Mahmoorganj. Vehicles heading from Luxa to Rath Yatra will be redirected from Gurubagh intersection towards Neemamai intersection. They will reach their destination via Kamachha. Vehicles travelling from Sigra to Rath Yatra will be diverted from Sigra crossing towards Mahmoorganj and Sonia police post. Vehicles from Mahmoorganj heading to the yatra will be redirected from Akashvani intersection towards Sigra. Ambulances and funeral vehicles will be exempt from this restriction. Heavy vehicles towards Manduadih will reach via Mohansarai, Rohania, Chandpur, and Mudhela after the no-entry is lifted. Similarly, heavy vehicles heading to Sigra can proceed via Mohansarai, Rohania, Chandpur, Lahartara, Dharamshala, Englishia Line, and Maldahiya, while vehicles from Sigra to Harhua or Babatpur can reach their destination via Sigra, Maldahiya, Chowkaghat, Tadi Khana, Police Line intersection, Bhojubir, Gilat Bazaar, Tarna, and Harhua after the no-entry is lifted. There will be a complete ban on vehicles coming from Manduadih to Akashvani and Rath Yatra crossings.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
On Jagannath Rath Yatra, a message of peace and no wars
Groups that will be organising Jagannath Rath Yatra here have planned to promote the idea of world peace and no wars when the processions are taken out during the festival on June 27. The annual event involves the chariots of three deities–Jagannath and his siblings Balbhadra and Subhadra. (File) Chardham Rathyatra Samiti takes out a procession that begins and ends at Chardham temple in Chowk and covers Rani Katara, Chaupatiya, Dilaram Baradari, Khet Gali and Thakur Dwara. The deities will begin their journey around 12 pm in a 20-feet-high 'In view of geo-political tensions, we will promote the need for world peace and public welfare,' said member of the committee Riddhi Gaur. A Yatra, organised by the Lete Hue Hanumanji temple, will be taken out in three boats near Panchvati Ghat around 5 pm. The boats will be decked up with banners promoting global harmony. A 101-year-old procession is taken out by Mahant Shatrohan Das Rathyatra Committee, Aminabad. The Yatra covers Marwadi Gali, Aminabad, Naka Hindola, Bansmandi, Latouche Road, Gautam Buddha Marg, Kaiserbagh Sabzi Mandi, Nasirabad and Aminabad Hanuman Mandir. It will start around 4 pm. 'Apart from the chariots, two bands and sunderkand mandali will also be part of the procession. A bhandara will be organised on June 27 from 10 am to 2 pm,' said Surya Prakash Pathak, the head priest of the committee. A traditional procession will be taken out by Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga Gaudiya Mission from Shri Gaudaiya Math Mandir and it will cover Moti Nagar, Aishbagh, Naka Hindola, Bansmandi, Latouche Road, Shri Ram Road and Aminabad Road before culminating back at the temple. 'The decorations will be similar to the arrangements made by the Puri Jagannath temple in Odisha. The chariots will be pulled amid the reverberations of dhol, shanks and ullok dhwani (owl sound). As many as 75 saints from Bengaluru, Kolkata, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Patna and Ahmedabad will be participating in the Yatra,' said member Anupam Mittal. Similarly, another march will be taken out from Radha Madhav Mandir in Daliganj around 5 pm. Folk artists from the state will be a part of it. 'The procession will be led by horses, elephants and three chariots with continuous showers of itra and flowers. '56 bhog' will be served in the temple while a dance-drama based on the tale of Lord Jagannath will be staged at Laiyya Mandi-Daliganj market on June 28 from 5 pm,' said a member of the organising committee, Anurag Sahu. Meanwhile, the Yatra to be taken out by International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) will begin around 4 pm from Ravindralaya and end at Jahangirabad Palace. On the way, it will touch Charbagh, Bansmandi, Hewett Road, Burlington Crossing and Novelty Cinema. 'International rock bands will be participating. The Rath and idols are brought from Kanpur. Another Yatra marking the return of the siblings will take place on July 5,' said ISKCON spokesperson Rati Vallabh Das.
