The Yatra rolled out from the 400-year-old Lord Jagannath temple in Gujarat's Jamalpur area this morning. Union Home Minister Amit Shah performed the 'mangla aarti'. (PTI)Latest News Today Live, July 7: The 147th Lord Jagannath’s annual Rath Yatra festival ended for the day today, with the chariots set to be pulled tomorrow (Monday). The Yatra is going to be a two-day affair after 53 years. President Droupadi Murmu is also scheduled to witness the Rath Yatra today, along with lakhs of devotees in the pilgrim town. The festival usually organised in a single was last held for two days in 1971.
The Yatra rolled out from the 400-year-old Lord Jagannath temple in Gujarat’s Jamalpur area this morning. Union Home Minister Amit Shah performed the ‘mangla aarti’ and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel performed ‘pahind vidhi’, the ritual of cleaning the way using a golden broom.
What security arrangements are in place in Puri? A crowd of about 10-15 lakh is expected at the festival venue. The Odisha government with the Centre has made arrangements for 180 platoons (one platoon comprises 30 personnel) of security personnel to be deployed to look after the law and order and manage the crowds during the festival. Artificial Intelligence-based CCTV cameras have also been installed. A buffer zone has been planned for the President, while there’s going to be VIP zone for the Odisha governor, chief minister, Union ministers and other dignitaries.
Latest News Live: Rath Yatra in Puri begins
Procession gets underway from Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha.
Latest News Live: 'Pahandi' ritual of deities begins at Puri's Jagannath temple
The ceremonial 'Pahandi' ritual of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra commenced around 11 am on Sunday.
Amid 'Jai Jagannath' chants, sounds of gongs, conches and cymbals reverberated through the air at Lion's Gate of the Puri temple
Latest News Live: President Murmu, PM Modi Odisha CM greet people as Rath Yatra begins today
President Murmu, in X posts in Odia and Hindi, greeted people on the auspicious day.
"I extend my heartiest greetings to all people of our country on the occasion of the world-famous Rath Yatra of Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannath. Countless Jagannath lovers of the country and the world are eagerly waiting to see three deities on the chariot today," she said.
Notably, President Murmu is in Odisha and is scheduled to witness Rath Yatra in Puri this afternoon.
PM Modi posted on X, "Greetings on the start of the sacred Rath Yatra. We bow to Mahaprabhu Jagannath and pray that His blessings constantly remain upon us." Similarly, in a video message, the chief minister expressed his heartiest greetings to the people of Odisha on Rath Yatra.
Latest News Live: Here's the day's schedule for Rath Yatra in Puri
Latest News Live: Meanwhile, PM Modi will be in Russia tomorrow
Prime Minister Narendr Modi will be travelling for his Moscow visit on July 8 and 9 at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin to hold the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. He will then be in Austria for his first visit on July 9 and 10.
Latest News Live: What the procession looks like
The raths (chariots) of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balbhadra and sister Subhadra are pulled by Khalashi community members as per the age-old tradition.
The procession usually consists of 18 decorated elephants, 100 trucks and 30 'akhadas' (local gymnasiums).
Latest News Live: Amit Shah, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel were part of pujas in Ahmedabad this morning | In pictures
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel during the inauguration ceremony of the annual 'Rath Yatra' of Lord Jagannath in Ahmedabad
Union Home Minister Amit Shah offers prayers at the Jagannath Temple this morning.
Latest News Live: When is Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath celebrated annually?
It falls on the Dwitiya Tithi, the second day of the bright fortnight of the Sharad Paksha, a fortnight of the Hindu lunar month of Asadh. The Sharad Paksha is a period of increasing moonlight and is considered auspicious for spiritual activities. The Asadh month, according to the Hindu Lunar calendar, typically falls in the month of June or July in the Gregorian calendar.
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The annual Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra commenced from Ahmedabad, Gujarat early this morning. It's all set to reach the pilgrim town of Puri in Odisha today where it's going to be a two-day event. Usually a single-day affair, the festival is going to be celebrated for two days after 53 years -- last one was in 1971.
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