Ahmedabad, July 12: Amidst tight security cover, the 125th Rath Yatra guarded by Commandoes was flagged off by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi from the Jagannath temple in Jamalpur gate area of the city at 7 am today. A beaming Modi was atop one of the chariots when it was pulled out by devouts from the historic temple to begin the procession, even as surging crowds gathered along the 35-km route since morning. The procession which has been reduced to minimum and length also been cut to one and half kilometres, instead of four kilometres, comprised chariots of lord Jagannath, Balbhadra and Subhadra.
It was led by a dozen elephants followed by 33 trucks carrying devotees, 10 bhajan mandalis, 15 akharas with people following the chariots.

Meanwhile, markets on the Yatra route remained closed and `janata curfew` was voluntarily imposed in minority-dominated localities by members of the community, many among them having already left for safer places.

Former chief minister Keshubhai Patel, Minister of State for home Gordhan Zadafia, health minister Ashok Bhatt, Minister of State for revenue Haren Pandya, chief secretary G Subharao, additional chief secretary for home Ashok Narain and director general of police K Chakravarty were present.

Rath Yatras were also being taken out under heavy police bandobast in 23 other places in the state, including Bhavnagar where the police had seized a huge cache of firearms and lethal weapons this week.

Bureau Report