RATH YATRA - AHMEDABAD

The 'Ratha Yatra'  Festival celebrated in Ahmedabad, Gujarat is considered to be the second biggest Rath Yatra in the country after the Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra  .  The chariots of Lord Jagannath his brother Balbhadra and sister Subhadra embark on the annual yatra from the 400 year old Jagannath temple in the Jamalpur area in Ahmedabad. Besides the three chariots of Lord Jagannath his brother Balram and sister Subhadra the Rath Yatra procession comprises nearly 15 decorated elephants, 100 trucks with tableaux and members of religious groups akharas local gyms and singing troupes. The procession returns  to the temple at around 830 pm after passing through an 18 km long route in the Old City .The yatra is taken out every year on Ashadhi Bij the second day of Ashadh month as per the Hindu calendar. Also known as festival of Chariot and colour, people in and around Ahmedabad throng on the streets to join the possession with celebration and fervor to offer their prayers to Lord Jagannatha. The traditional route of rath Yatra procession in Ahmedabad is Jamalpur Chakla-Vaishya Sabha-Gollimda-Astodia Chakla-Madangopal ni haveli-Raipur Chakla-Khadia Juni Gate-Khadia crossroads-Panchkuva-Kalupur circle-Kalupur bridge-Saraspur.