RATH YATRA - AHMEDABAD

The Ratha Yatra festival in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, is the second-largest chariot procession in India, after Puri’s Jagannath Rath Yatra. Celebrated annually on Ashadhi Bij, the festival begins at the 400-year-old Jagannath Temple in Jamalpur, symbolizing Lord Jagannath, Balbhadra, and Subhadra’s journey to their maternal aunt’s home.The grand procession features three ornate chariots, 15 decorated elephants, and 100 trucks with tableaux depicting Hindu mythology. Religious groups, akharas, gyms, and singing troupes add to the festive energy with bhajans and chants.Covering an 18-kilometer route, the yatra passes through historic locations such as Jamalpur Chakla, Khadia, Panchkuva, Kalupur, and Saraspur, where devotees offer prayers, flowers, and sweets. The procession returns to the temple around 8:30 PM, marking the end of a spiritually enriching journey that unites communities in devotion and celebration.