Devotion on Wheels: Gujarat and Odisha Gear Up for Sacred Rath Yatra with Grand Rituals and security Measures

 With the revered Jagannath Rath Yatra set for June 27, preparations are in full swing across India, especially in Gujarat and Odisha, where the event holds deep cultural and spiritual significance.

Gujarat’s Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghavi, announced that all security and logistical arrangements have been meticulously put in place to ensure a peaceful and seamless Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad. “Jagannath Rath Yatra is not just a festival—it is the heartbeat of devotion for the people of Gujarat,” he said during a media interaction.

To mark Snana Purnima, a significant prelude to the main event, the city witnessed a Jal Yatra along the banks of the Sabarmati River. This sacred ritual, observed ahead of the chariot procession, reflects the spiritual atmosphere building up in the state.

Meanwhile, in Odisha, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi participated in the elaborate Pahandi rituals at the Jagannath Temple in Puri, where chants of “Jai Jagannath” echoed through the temple town. The air was filled with spiritual fervor as Lord Jagannath, along with siblings Balabhadra and Subhadra, were ceremoniously carried out of the sanctum in a majestic Snana Yatra.

The Snana Yatra, which marks the first ceremonial procession of the deities, is a visual and devotional spectacle. The temple premises resonated with the rhythm of conches, gongs, and sacred chants, as devotees gathered in awe of the divine presence.

Preparations for the Rath Yatra in Puri began as early as April 30, on the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, with the construction of the chariots commencing within the temple complex. As the countdown begins, anticipation builds for the deities’ grand journey through the streets of Puri—a tradition that symbolizes unity, devotion, and the cultural vibrance of Odisha’s spiritual heritage.

This ancient festival is expected to draw massive crowds to Puri and Ahmedabad, reaffirming its place as one of India’s most spiritually profound and culturally rich events.