139th Jagannath rath yatra begins

July 06, 2016 08:38

The 139th edition of Lord Jagannath's rath yatra began in Ahmedabad today amidst tight security being pressed into service for the annual event.

As the procession will pass through some communally sensitive areas, more than 18,000 security personnel of local police and para-military forces will be deployed at strategic locations along the route.

Police said they have initiated action like preventive detention or externment against 10,000 anti-social elements to ensure a trouble-free event.

The rath yatra, having chariots of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balbhadra and sister Subhadra, rolled out at around 7.30 am from the 400-year old Jagannath temple in Jamalpur of the walled city.

The total length of rath yatra procession stretches up to 1.5 km and covers around 15 km route before returning to the temple after an almost 11-hour journey in the walled city during which it passes through several Muslim dominated areas, such as Jamalpur, Kalupur, Delhi Chakla, Shahpur, Prem Darwaja and Dariyapur.

The rath yatra will take a break for afternoon meal in Saraspur area of the city, which is considered as the Lord's maternal home, where around five lakh devotees will take food before starting their return journey at around 1.30pm.

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