Peace message against Iran war highlights 149th Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad
Tens of thousands of devotees participated in the 149th Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad on Thursday, as the procession covered a 16-kilometre route under the watch of over 30,000 security personnel. The event began at the 400-year-old Jagannath temple in Jamalpur and concluded at Saraspur, where a community feast was organised. Despite the intense afternoon sun, devotees lined the streets for hours to catch a glimpse of the chariots carrying the deities of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra.
The procession featured 18 decorated elephants, 101 trucks, and numerous tableaux. One tableau, in particular, drew attention for its message of global peace, referencing the Iran-United States conflict. It displayed posters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and featured a volunteer wearing a Modi mask. Gujarati slogans such as 'Bharat Desh Shaanti Chahe Che' and English messages like 'No War, Only Peace' were prominently displayed. The organisers said the tableau aimed to promote harmony and oppose war.
Security arrangements were robust. The police used rope barricades to manage crowds and deployed a new elephant monitoring system called 'Gajarakshak', which includes GPS tracking, sound sensors, gyroscope-based movement detection, and live cameras. This was a precaution after two elephants ran amok during the 2025 yatra, injuring two people. No such incidents were reported this year.
Medical personnel attended to 41 people, with 15 cases of fainting, five of cuts and bruises, four breathing problems, four fall injuries, and three traffic accidents. Three people were admitted to hospitals. Free drinking water and buttermilk were distributed to help devotees cope with the heat, which later gave way to rain.
For many participants, the yatra is a family tradition. Prem Patel, 27, a truck owner, said he has been attending since childhood and would not miss it even for Diwali. Satish Modi, vice-president of an association coordinating tableaux, said his family has been involved for over 100 years. Nikhil Patel, another truck owner, said he grew up watching his father and grandfather prepare for the event.
The yatra, organised by the Shri Jagannathji Temple Trust, is one of the oldest and largest in Gujarat. The 149th edition underscored both religious devotion and a call for peace amid global tensions.
