Ahmedabad, June 27: Undettered by the recent spurt of explosions and gunning down of two gangsters, who had allegedly come to disrupt the traditional 'rath yatra' here, the Jagannath Temple authorities today said the `rath yatra', to be held on July 1, would proceed along its traditional route. Asserting that the yatra procession will take its original and traditional route, temple trustee Mahendra Jha told reporters here, "We have obtained the necessary permissions from the state government, which has also assured adequate security cover along the entire route of the yatra."

The yatra passes through several sensitive areas of the city during its nearly 38 km long route. Last year's 'rath yatra', organised in the backdrop of post-Godhra communal violence, was mired in controversy after several organisations pleaded changing of the route to avoid friction between two communities.
"Unlike last year, there is no controversy this year. People of all communities have equal respect for the yatra and looking at their fervour during the procession, one cannot distinguish whether one is Muslim or Hindu," he said.

Jha said that 16 decorated elephants would lead the procession while 98 trucks would follow it along with 30 `akhadas', 25 `bhajan mandalis'.


Nearly 1,200 people called as `khalisis', would pull the chariot, he added.
Bureau Report