Ahmedabad: The city of Ahmedabad has entered a deeply spiritual phase as preparations gather momentum for the 149th historic Jagannath Rath Yatra, scheduled to commence from the revered Shri Jagannath Temple in Jamalpur on July 16. Ahead of the grand procession, devotees participated in one of the most sacred traditions associated with the festival—the 108 Kalash Jal Yatra, marking the beginning of the religious celebrations.
Carrying 108 sacred pots (Kalash), hundreds of devotees embarked on a ceremonial procession from the banks of the Sabarmati River, collecting holy water before making their way to the Jagannath Temple. The sacred water was then used to perform the Jalabhishek (holy ablution) of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra, invoking divine blessings ahead of the annual Rath Yatra.
Following the ritual, the deities were adorned in the magnificent Gajavesh (Elephant Attire), a unique and highly revered tradition. According to temple customs, this is the only day in the entire year when devotees receive the rare opportunity to witness Lord Jagannath in this majestic form, making the occasion especially significant for thousands of worshippers.
As part of another age-old tradition, Lord Jagannath, accompanied by his elder brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, will now symbolically travel to their maternal home (Mama’s House) in Sarangpur, where the deities will remain for 15 days. This ritual represents the divine siblings’ annual visit to their relatives before embarking on the grand public procession.
The Jagannath Rath Yatra of Ahmedabad is one of India’s oldest and most celebrated chariot festivals outside Puri. Every year, lakhs of devotees line the streets to witness the beautifully decorated chariots, religious processions, devotional music, cultural performances, and elaborate security arrangements that make the event a symbol of Gujarat’s rich spiritual heritage and communal harmony.
With the sacred rituals now underway, Ahmedabad is set to welcome yet another edition of this centuries-old festival, where faith, devotion, and tradition come together in a spectacular celebration of Lord Jagannath’s divine journey.
