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Narendra Modi, the crowd-puller at Jagannath Yatra
Amid tight security and monitoring by two Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, the 136th Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra began in Ahmedabad on Wednesday morning.
As per tradition, elephants had a first glimpse of Lord Jagannath and led the procession, which set off from the over 400 year-old iconic Jagannath temple in Jamalpur area.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi performed the 'Pahind Vidhi' (symbolic cleaning of the path for chariot of Lord Jagannath) for the rath yatra, after which the procession of Lord Jagannath, Lord Baldev and their sister Subhadra began.
"Ahmedabad's Jagannath temple rath yatra is famous world over. Since the last 136 years this tradition is going on and once again Lord Jagannathji is out on a (nagar charya) city tour to give his glimpse to the people," Modi said.
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Narendra Modi, the crowd-puller at Jagannath Yatra
Modi said he was fortunate that he has repeatedly got a chance to bow at the feet of the deity to seek his blessings.
"All of us should pray to Lord Jagannath that this nation should move ahead towards peace, sadhbhavna (goodwill), unity, delight and prosperity.
"The monsoon season has begun and with the blessings of Lord Jagannath, I pray that the entire country receives a good rainfall so that our farmers, villages and the poor can benefit," he said.
According to a temple trustee, Modi performed the traditional 'Pahind Vidhi' ceremony for a record 12th time.
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Narendra Modi, the crowd-puller at Jagannath Yatra
The rath yatra entourage will pass through different parts of the city and cover a distance of 14 km.
The rath will travel through some sensitive areas of the city like Kalupur, Prem Darwaja, Delhi Chakla, Dariyapur and Shahpur in the old city.
Tight security arrangements have been put in place in and around 127 different localities of the city, from where the procession will pass.
The yatra halts at Saraspur, where the local people offer 'Maha Bhoj' to the entire entourage of devotees of Lord Jagannath.
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Narendra Modi, the crowd-puller at Jagannath Yatra
The chariot festival is celebrated on the second day of Sukla Paksha (waxing cycle of moon) in the month of Ashadh, popularly known as Ashadhi Bij. It is now celebrated as 'Lokotsav' of Gujarat.
Apart from Ahmedabad, similar yatras will be held at about 140 places across Gujarat, Modi wrote on his blog.
Elaborate security measures have been made to ensure peaceful passage of the rath yatra, in which lakhs of devotees from the city and outside would participate.
There is heavy deployment of police and Central Armed Paramilitary Forces for the event.
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Narendra Modi, the crowd-puller at Jagannath Yatra
In addition to the UAVs, 20 Closed Circuit Television cameras have been installed at various places.
Fourteen paramilitary companies -- BSF (6), RAF (4), Central Reserve Police Force (2) and Central Industrial Security Force (2) -- have been deployed in Ahmedabad to prevent any untoward incidents, officials said.
Eight teams of Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS), too, are part of the security arrangements.
Two DIGP-rank officers, 19 superintendents of police, 46 deputy superintendents, 160 inspectors, 100 sub-inspectors, 1,400 head constables and constables, two platoons of women police constables and 25 SRP companies have been brought in for deployment from outside the city.
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