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CHARIOTS OF WORSHIP TAKE THE ROAD TO HARMONY Sunday, June 24, 2001

AsianAge
Ahmedabad, June 23: In keeping with the traditional fanfare the 124th rathyatra commenced from the Jagannathpuri temple and passed off peacefully. From early in the morning the temple witnessed huge crowds trying to get inside for the darshan of Lord Krishna, Balram, and Subhadra.

At least 13 elephants and 100 trucks from all over the city and state took part in the procession. The place was alive with chants of Jai Ranchod, Makhan Chor and Hare Ram Hare Krishna and even the tiny terraces were packed to get a glimpse of the rath.

The chief minister, Mr Keshubhai Patel, arrived at the temple and offered prayers at the shrine. Adequate security measures had been taken to control crowds, with members of youth associations coming forward to assist in the management. The akhadas were conspicious by their absence. Except for a few volunteers from select akhadas to serve water to the devotees, most of them abstained from the celebrations to express their solidarity with those affected by the earthquake.

From the temple, the rathyatra headed for the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. The mahantji came to AMC and as per the tradition was greeted by the entire elected wing and officers, led by the mayor, Mr Himmatsingh Patel, Badruddin Sheikh, chairman of the standing committee, municipal commissioner, K. Kailashnathan, deputy mayor, Khemchand Solanki, leader of opposition, Dharmendrasingh Shah and others.

This symbolised the city greeting the rathyatra and as per the tradition, the Mahantji blessed the city and the devotees. He distributed the saffron sash, symbolic of the Rathyatra and the ugadela maag as prasad.

The mayor, deputy municipal commissioner Pinakin Dixit and other city elders garlanded the deities in their raths as it passed the AMC gates.

The ‘believers’ were delighted that it rained exactly at the time the first rath rolled near the AMC gates. Considered as a blessing, the belief is that if it rains during the rathyatra, it abodes well for the monsoon and is a good omen for the coming year.

As the trucks passed the Manekchowk vegetable market, they were loaded with cucumbers and black berries. The whole procession was just about 8 km long and was to travel a route of 17 kms. However, with the traditional akhadas not performing their art and showing off their valor and skills, the rathyatra was proceeding at a speed faster than usual.

However, some of the akhadais could not resist showing off their muscles and making pyramids and this slowed down the procesison at Dariapur.

While it was announced that loudspeakers would not be a part of the celebrations this year, the blaring sound of loudspeakers greeted the devotees. In Raipur, the loudpeakers announced names of lost children along with the devotional and nationalistic music while in Dariapur, they were singing praises of their own truck proudly greeting and admiring their trucks announcing “aayi rum zum ke aayi..aapne truck aavi.”

The otherwise senstive Dariapur wore a festive look with devotees chanting Jai Ranchod and jai bala Krishna while trucks filled with sadhus thronged through the thin lane amidst heavy police bandobast. The loud speaker constantly blared songs and encouraging messages asking the participants to distributeall the sweets at Dariapur itself. The absence of the regular number of akhadas forced the procession to reach designated spots before schedule.

Crowds from myriad communities were in a frenzy near tambu chowky, rubbing shoulders with local politicians and mahants, seeking well wishes, blessings and offerings.

Salim Chipa, a resident near Tambu chowky, said, “I have been participating in the rathyatra for the past 20 years and the frenzy has certainly fizzled out unlike before. Earlier, one could not even move through the lane till the procession had passed and people from even far flung areas of Gujarat used to come to glimpse the gods and that too in Dariapur.”

According to latest reports, the rathyatra passed peacefully from the Gheekanta crossroads. and was heading towards last phase.

The Rathyatra , which begin in the morning since 7.30 am, reached Ghikanta Char-rasta late in the evening. However this time no Akarhas were included even then the procession took long time. Apart of long convoy of royal rath-yatra, the devotees turned in thousands along the road side, just to have the glimpse of deity. As the procession headed towards the end, a relief could be seen on security personnel though the state police left no stone unturned to ensure smooth passing of the procession.

Approximately 10,000 to 11,000 police personnel were deployed for the event. The state police had also asked for 500 uniform personel from Sabarkanta district. About 100 Rapid Action Force personnel were also deployed.

The Rathyatra was also celebrated in Vadodara with religious fervor on Saturday. The yatra, which started from the railway station, passed through different areas of the city and completed at Kevdabaug.

The Yatra started in the afternoon and thousands of devotees pulled the rath as it passed through the city. The entire procession completed without any untoward incident as the city police kept a close watch throughout the procession.

The procession passed through Sayajigunj, Kothi, Raopura, Nyaymandir, Dandiabazar, Rajmahal road and it ended at Kevdabaug. Leading citizens like the mayor of Vadodara Municipal Corporation, chairman of Gujarat Electricity Board and others also participated in the procession.

News Source : The AsianAge Ahmedabad Edition [ The coolest Newspaper for city ]

 

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