Amid fears of a third wave of Covid-19 pandemic, the 144th Rathyatra of Lord Jagannath has finally been decided to take place on 12 July. This year Lord Jagannath will leave for city with brother Balbhadraji and sister Subhadraji at 7 am and return to the temple by 12 pm.
The Rath Yatra will be held on the traditional route in the early morning after the Chief Minister Vijay Rupani performs the ceremony.
This information has been given by a high-level person involved in the planning of Rathyatra every year. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be in Gujarat on 12 July. He will participate in the Mangala Aarti before the Rath Yatra with the family at the Jagannath Temple this year as they do every year. He will arrive in Ahmedabad on the evening of 11 July to participate in this Aarti.
The Rath Yatra could not take place last year in Ahmedabad due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The government may announce the matter at the last minute. Public curfew is also being considered in the areas along the route during the departure of the chariot.
In the presence of limited number of people Lord Jagannath will be seated in the chariot and leave the town. However, trucks, arenas and choirs won’t join the Rath Yatra this year. High-level sources said that limited number of sailors will pull the chariot to take the Lord to the township. The chariot will not be parked anywhere along the way. BJP state president C.R. Patil will be present at the flag hoisting ceremony and Netrotsav on 10 July. The programme is being discussed daily with top police officials, temple trustees and mahants. Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of State for Home Affairs among other leaders will be invited for Rath Yatra.