Gujarat Police, temple committee hold meeting to prepare for Lord Jagannath's Rath Yatra

"We organized a meeting of the Lord Jagannath Temple Committee and senior officials of Ahmedabad Police. We deliberated on various aspects... We will make full use of GPS, CCTV cameras, and drones during the Rath Yatra... The city is very excited and the atmosphere is very positive. We are getting cooperation from all classes of people," Gujarat DGP Vikas Sahay said.

On June 30, Gujarat Police conducted foot patrolling in Ahmedabad today morning to review the security arrangements for the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath scheduled to be held on July 7.

The patrolling was held to ensure a smooth conduct of the Rath Yatra.

Earlier, Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw said that special arrangements have been made for the devotees coming for the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath.

He also added that 315 trains have been made available for the occasion.

"For the auspicious occasion of the Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, special arrangements have been made by the railways. To facilitate the devotees of Maha Prabhu from the different states of West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Jharkhand, at least 315 trains will run, covering all the parts of Odisha," Vaishnaw said.

"We are constituting a holding area for 15,000 people, along with the construction of a toilet complex and temporary ticketing centre. We are making all possible efforts to ease the journey of the devotees," he further said.

The Rath Yatra, also known as the Chariot festival, is believed to be as old as the Jagannath Temple in Puri.

The festival, celebrated with great fanfare from New Zealand to London and South Africa encompasses the onward journey of the Holy Trinity to their maternal aunt, Goddess Gundicha Devi's Temple and culminates with the return journey after eight days.

In reality, the festival stretches from the day of Akshaya Tritiya (in April) and culminates with the return of the journey of the Holy Trinity to the Shree Mandir premises. (ANI)