On 148ᵗʰ Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad falling on June 27, 2025, a multi-layered security operation is underway featuring. Over 23,800 security personnel including Gujarat Police, RAF, SRP, Chetak Commandos will be deployed along the Rath Yatra route in the city. The procession of lord Jagannath, along with sisiter Shubhadra and brother Balbhadra will be taken out and moved through the old city in three separate chariots pulled by lakhs of devotees along 18 kms route starting from Jagannath temple in the morning from Jamalpur area.
For Yatra surveillance 227 live CCTV cameras, 2,872 body cams, 41 drones, AI-based crowd & fire alerts, 25 watchtowers, 300+ CCTV total will be used. Also GPS tracking for vehicles, 1,000 traffic control officers, 23 cranes for logistics is facilitated. RAF and local police patrols along the route will be made. High tech driven AR-VR simulations have been used to train security officers and cadets virtually for navigating the entire 18 km procession route. A tech startup is rolling out crowd-management software to alert authorities if density becomes unsafe during the yatra.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel personally reviewed the logistics along the 16–18 km route, coordinating emergency readiness and community outreach. Mameru ceremony (offering garments and gifts by maternal uncle of the deity) and Netrotsav eye-opening rituals have been completed, with formalities like chariot preparations, canopy coverings, and rain precautions all taken care.
The procession will feature 18 elephants, 101 decorated trucks, 30 akharas, and several bhajan mandalis, drawn through heritage areas and jam-packed streets.
Local artist Mukesh Pandya (54) crafted five-inch paper replicas of the iconic chariots (Nandighosh, Taladhwaj, Darpadalan) using colored paper and mini idols—no glue or paint—for a purely handcrafted tribute. Despite being a major cultural event, schools will remain open on June 27, aligning with the statewide Praveshotsav enrolment drive. Parents have been advised to decide based on safety and convenience.
June 22–24 Mameru Darshan & Netrotsav rituals
June 24 Security drills and final reviews conducted
June 27, early morning Mangla Aarti (~4 AM) → Chariots begin at 7 AM
Ahmedabad’s Rath Yatra is shaping up to be a grand and meticulously managed event—an 18 km heritage procession with elephants, floats, saints, and devotional music—supported by cutting-edge security measures and community coordination to ensure a safe and harmonious celebration of faith and culture.
