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Gujarat gears up for car festival on July 3

The 123rd rath yatra of Lord Jagannath will be taken out with traditional gaiety and fervour on July 3, chief priest Rameshwardas Maharaj said in Ahmedabad today.

The car festival, which has a history of more than a century, will begin in the early hours of the day at Jagannath temple from Jamalpur, in the old walled city, after the traditional morning pooja. Sticking to convention, the flagging-off will be by Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel, he told a press conference.

The yatra will have three decorated chariots carrying idols of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balram and his sister Subhadra. It will return to the temple around 2100 hours that day.

The chief priest, known as mahantshri, said nearly 15 lakh people will take part in the yatra. People from all walks of life will participate.

A contingent of nearly 2000 sadhus from different religious places in the country, like Hardwar, Ayodhya, Nashik, Ujjain, Jagannathpuri and Saurashtra will accompany the yatra.

The 25-km yatra will travel through its customary routes, which include the main thoroughfare areas of the city.

The yatra will consist of 15 caparisoned elephants, 98 trucks, 30 gyms displaying various indigenous excercises, 15 bhajan mandalis and five bands.

At the end will be the three chariots of the Lord Jagannath, Balram and Subhadra. These chariots will be pulled along by 450 to 500 youngsters from the Khalasi community, as per tradition.

Police commissioner P C Pandey, after a meeting with the administrative committee of the temple, granted permission to the yatra organisers.

UNI

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