Ahmedabad gears up for 138th Rath yatra, Eid-ul-Fitr

Drowned in religious fervour and gaiety, Ahmedabad is all set to witness the 138th edition of Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra, which is coinciding with Eid-ul-Fitr tomorrow, amid tight security arrangements with thousands of personnel pressed into service to ensure smooth conduct of the celebrations.

The Chariot of Lord Jagannath will roll out on the roads tomorrow along a 14-km-route across the city, where lakhs of devotees will seek blessings after the yatra begins from the over 400-year old temple in Jamalpur area here.

Rathyatra or chariot festival is celebrated by Hindus on the second day of Sukla Paksha (waxing cycle of moon) in the month of Ashadh.

Coincidentally, Eid-Ul-Fitr, which is celebrated after the end of 30 days' fasting in the holy month of Ramzan, also falls tomorrow.

Ramzan or Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It is observed as a fasting period by Muslims, who abstain from food and water from sunrise to sunset and culminates in Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations.

The city, which is infamous for a history of communal riots, will be witnessing Eid-ul-Fitr and Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra simultaneously after around thirty years and followers of both the religions have pledged to avoid any untoward eventuality during the celebrations.

Religious leaders of both the communities exchanged sweets and flowers while wishing each other as Mahant Dilip Dasji Maharaj of Jagannath Temple visited Muslim clerics during 'Iftar' and followers of Islam here also offered flowers and cuisines to the Lord's temple.

As per the tradition, Chief Minister Anandiben Patel will perform 'Pahind Vidhi', a symbolic ritual to clean the way of the route where the Lord's chariot will roll on, after which the annual rathyatra of Lord Jagannath, elder brother Lord Baldev and their sister Devi Subhadra will begin tomorrow.

The procession of the Rath Yatra would comprise 18 elephants, 100 trucks, 30 religious congregations, 18 singing troupes, three chariots and seven cars.

It will pass through some communally sensitive areas such as Kalupur, Prem Darwaja, Delhi Chakla, Dariyapur and Shahpur in the old city.