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Ahmedabad, DeshGujarat

Rathyatra is a special festival for Ahmedabad city. This is the festival where lakhs of people gather on the roads together for having a glimpse of three chariots (Rath) of Lord Balabhadra, Subhadra and Jagannath. These three wooden chariots are not engine operated. Instead they are pulled using ropes by devotees on the roads. Idols in chariots which are otherwise seen in Jagannath temple of Ahmedabad in normal days, are put in chariots and visit the city on Rathyatra’s day. People welcome Lord’s chariots and journey (Yatra) on the roads. Rathyatra is not just ‘Yatra of Rath’ but actually much more. You can enjoy watching plenty of Sadhus(Hindu holy men), raw of elephants, nearly 100 decorated motor trucks, camel carts, prayer groups, religious music bands and much much more in this roughly 2 kilometers long procession on it’s 15 kms. long journey.

About Ahmedabad’s Rathyatra

The highlight of Rathyatra festival is the sacred journey of images of lord Jagannath with brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra from Jagdish temple, Jamalpur to Saraspur based Temple, where they remain for an hour and return back. Three wooden chariots carrying the three deities pulled by hundreds of devotees present a spectacular scene. Rathyatra is celebrated on the second day of the lunar month (Asahdh) every year.

Rathyatra commemorates the journey of Lord Krishna from Gokul to Mathura. It also symbolizes a journey to light from the dark, which commences on the 2nd day of the bright fortnight in the month of Ashadh (June/July).

Idol of Lord Jagannath has a black face and his rath is called as ‘Nandighosh’; Subhadra has a yellow face and her rath is called ‘Kalpadhwaj’, Balabhadra has a white face andhis chariot is called as ‘Taladhwaj’. Loud gongs announce the boarding of the deities onto the chariots with the arrival of the Chief Minister of Gujarat in te early morning. Chief Minister of Gujarat sweeps the chariot with a golden bloom, fulfilling his role as the sevaka (servant) of the gods, a gesture symbolizing humility and equality with all castes. Starting from Jamalpur area’s Jagannath temple at around 7.00 in the morning, the procession is led by Balabhadra’s chariot, followed by Subhadra,s with the Lord Jagannath’s bringing up the rear, dragged by about 400 honored devotees of Khalas community to Sarspur area at around 12.30 p.m. and back. On the way Chariots are welcomed at Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation campus by Mayor of Ahmedabad. Once the chariots reach Saraspur area, the deities give darshan to devotees for an hour. After a rest of an hour, they return to Jagannath Temple with a similar procession. Chariots usually return to the Jagannath Temple at around 7.00 p.m. in the evening. The raths are parked at Jagannath temple to use again next year for Rathyatra.

Schedule & Route of Ahmedabad’s Rathyatra

4.00 Mangala Aarti at Jagannath Temple
4.30 Khichdi, pumpkin, gavarfali’s Bhog(holly food) catered to the God’s idols
6.15 Idols are taken out of the temple and are settled on chariots
7.00 Rathyatra begins from Jagannath Temple
9.00 Ahmedabad Munnicipal Corporation
9.45 Raypur chakla
10.30 Khadiya
11.15 Kalupur circle
12.00 Saraspur
13.30 Return journey from Saraspur
14.00 Kalupur circle
14.30 Prem darwaja
15.15 Delhi chakla
15.45 Shahpur darwaja
16.30 R.C. Highschool
17.00 Pittaliya bamba
17.45 Pankor naka
18.30 Manek chok
20.00 Back at Jagannath Temple

Elephants in Ahmedabad’s Rathyatra

Core part of the Rathyatra festival is ofcourse thre deities and their chariots but chariots are kept always at the last part of the Rathyatra. Rathyatra actually is lead by elephants. Every year in Ahmedabad’s Rathyatra, one can see raw of some 15 elephants walking ahead. Elephants are fed banana and sweets on the way by children and devotees. People also donate coins to the elephants. Elephants pick coins in their trunks and pass on to their masters riding over them. Some elephants are local while some others travel and come to the city of Ahmedabad for participation in Rathyatra.

Sadhus and Sakhibaba in Ahmedabad’s Rathyatra

Sakhibaba From Uttara Pradesh Celebrating Ahmedabad’s Rathyatra

A week before Rathyatra and sadhus(saffron clad Hindu holy men) start coming at a general dormitory hall in front of Jagannath temple(Jagdish mandir). One can spot different types of Sadhus here. Some has ash on allover their body. Some just wears Rudraksha and interestingly some Sakhi baba too. Sakhibaba are men who live like women because they feel themselves as Radha, a lover of Lord Krishna. So to please Krishna they dress, dance and live like Radha. All sadhus and Sakhibaba walk with elephants in Rathyatra.

Decorated Motor Trucks in Ahmedabad’s Rathyatra

There is ‘Rathyatra truck association’ in Ahmedabad, formed for motor trucks that participate every year in Rathyatra. Trucks are decorated with social awareness issues and religious themes. Usually there are nearly 100 decorated trucks in Rathyatra. Each truck is arranged and decorated by different local social, religious organization. Children participate in trucks wearing fancy dresses on religious themes. Volunteers and organizers of trucks distribute holy food ‘prashad’ to the devotees on the way.

Akhada & Stuntmen in Ahmedabad’s Rathyatra

Some 30 Different ‘Akhada’ situated in Ahmedabad participate in Rathyatra to exhibit their stunts and bravery. Boxers, Bodybuilders, Showmen, Stuntmen all exhibit their stuff to the people. Akhadas ride on cycle rickshaws, camels and camel carts in Rathyatra.

Bhajans & Dances in Ahmedabad’s Rathyatra

Two or three Bhajan Mandali formed by local old women participate in Rathyatra, singing bhajans(Songs for God) with playing handy musical instruments like ‘Manjira’, ‘Kartal’ etc. in their hands on the way before three chariots. Their songs and varieties of music like ‘Dhoon’, ‘Kirtan’, ‘Bhajan’ along with sometime spontaneous dances are worth seeing.

History of Ahmedabad’s Rath Yatra

Mahant Shri Narsimhdasji Maharaj who initiated Ahmedabad’s Rathyatra

Festival of annual Rathyatra in Ahmedabad was started in 1878 A.D. when mahant(Chief) of Ahmedabad’s Jagannath Temple(Jagdish mandir) late shree Narsimhdasji in his dream had order from the God to start Rathyatra in Ahmedabad. Narsimhdasji addressed is devotees and told them about the wish of God to start Rathyatra in Ahmedabad on the basis of Jagannath Puris Rathyatra in Orissa.Devotees from Khalas community in Bharuch prepared three wooden raths to the temple and Rathyatra was started. In 2007, it was 130th Rathyatra of Ahmedabad. Mahant Narsimhdasji who initiated Rathyatra in Ahmedabad was a barefooted Sadhu and lived for 108 years.

Mahant Parampara of Ahmedabad’s Jagdsih Mandir

Current Gadipati Mahant Shri Rameshwardasji Maharaj

Ahmedabad’s Jagannath Temple (Jagdish Mandir) has ‘Mahant(Chief Religious Person of the Temple) parampara’. According to this tradition, after one ‘Mahant’ passes away, another ‘Mahant’ appointed by him replaces his ‘parampara’. Here is the list of Mahants of Jagannath Temple, Ahmedabad.

-Mahant Hanumandasji established a Hanuman temple.(It’s still there in Jagdish Mandir campus)
-Mahant Sarangdasji established Jagannathji,Balabhadra and Subhadra’s idols in the temple.
-Mahant Balmukunddasji
-Mahant Narsimhdasji started Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad.
-Mahant Sevadasji
-Mahant Ramharshdasji initiated work of restructuring of the temple.
-Mahant Rameshvardasji(See his photo above)