135th Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra commences in Ahmedabad

Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi performs ‘Pahind Vidhi’ and the age-old tradition of pulling the chariot of Lord Jagannath.

On the morning of Thursday 21st June 2012, the Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra began from the 400 year old Jagannath Temple in Ahmedabad. On the occasion, Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi performed the ‘Pahind Vidhi’ of the Yatra. This is the symbolic path cleaning on the chariot of Lord Jagannath after which the Yatra commences.

On the occasion, Shri Modi also pulled the chariot of Lord Jagannath out of the temple premises, which is also an age-old tradition.

"After Puri, Ahmedabad's Rath yatra in the country and world has turned out to be centre of attraction. Thousands of saints arrive in Gujarat to participate in this Rath yatra," Shri Modi said. "I pray to Lord Jagannath that Gujarat which has been successful in attaining new heights of development with peace, unity and Sadbhavana should prosper and progress more with the lord's blessing," he added. "On the occasion of Rath yatra, I pray at Lord's feet that even this year the rains should be good during the monsoon," the Chief Minister stated.