Jagannath Rath Yatra begins in Puri, Gujarat today

Puri: Lord Jagannath is all set to embark on his journey from Shreemandir to the Gundicha temple in Puri on Thursday. In the meantime, the Lord Jagannath Rathyatra, began this morning from the 400-year-old Jagannath temple in Jamalpur area, amidst tight security arrangements.

Amidst heavy security, over 10 lakh devotees are expected to witness the grand Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath in Puri.


Lord Jagannath, along with brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra, will begin journey on the three royal chariots, that have been completed after two months.

The security is of major concern as there is an intelligence alert of possible threat from extremist groups.

The nine-day rath yatra will culminate on June 29.

In Gujarat, as per tradition, Chief Minister Narendra Modi, performed the 'Pahind Vidhi' of Rathyatra (symbolic path cleaning on chariot of Lord Jagannath) after which the annual rathyatra of Lord Jagannath began.

State Chief Minister also pulled the chariot of Lord Jagannath out of the temple premises, an age old tradition here.