NB Explains | Flagging off 145th Rath Yatra of Bhagwan Jagannath in Ahmedabad, Gujarat CM performs 'Pahind Vidhi'

Gandhinagar, Jun 20: Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel performed 'Pahind Vidhi' at Jagannath temple in Ahmedabad on Tuesday (Jun 20) ahead of flagging off the 146th Rath Yatra of Bhagwan Jagannath on Tuesday morning in Gujarat's capital city.

 

 

 

 

As per tradition, every year during Bhagwan Jagannath's Rath Yatra the Chief Minister performs the 'Pahind Vidhi', a symbolic ritual of cleaning the way for the chariots using a golden broom and flags off the Rath Yatra. Bhupendra Patel continued the tradition and for the first time flagged off the 145th Rath Yatra as the Chief Minister. Gujarat CM Patel also cleansed the chariot of God with a gold broom thereby performing the traditional Ashadhi Beej Rath Yatra's Pahind ritual according to a statement by the chief minister's office.

 

 

 

On the occasion of Rath Yatra, Chief Minister Patel wished people and also prayed that Jagannathji shower blessings on all and give them good health, well-being, prosperity and happiness to all in their lives, the statement read. Tight security was deployed as lakhs of devotees flocked the 18-km route of the procession to catch a glimpse of the deities. State Home Minister Sanghvi, referring to the security arrangements regarding the Rath Yatra, said that all arrangements have been made by Gujarat Police for this Rath Yatra.

 

 

 

 

 

Apart from this, Gujarat Police have been stationed to go through the entire route. About 25,000 police personnel will be stationed along the route. Idols of Bhagwan Jagannath, Bhagwan Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra were installed on the chariot, ahead of the start of ceremonial Rath Yatra that commenced from the 400-year-old Jagannath Temple in Jamalpur area of Ahmedabad today.

 

 

 

 

Among all the temples of Ahmedabad, Jagannath temple of Jamalpur is unique and it has special significance. About 444 years ago, Hanumandasji Maharaj of Ramanand sect established a temple here and placed the image of Hanumanji in the temple ceremoniously. Later, Sarangdasji brought the images of Jagannath, Baldevji and Subhadraji from Jagannathpuri and ceremoniously established them in the temple.

 

 

  

 

From that time onwards, this temple is known as Jagannathji Mandir. Narsinghdasji Maharaj started the tradition of Rath-Yatra and made the temple popular everywhere. The idols installed here have been brought from Jagannath Puri itself and hence the temple possesses immense significance for Vaishnavites across the country.

 

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