Ahmedabad’s ‘Jalayatra’ commences ahead Jagannath Rathyatra

Following the Jalayatra, Lord Jagannath, along with his sister Subhadra and brother Baldev, will proceed to their maternal uncle’s home (Mosal) at the Ranchhodraiji Temple in Saraspur.

All arrangements have been completed at the temple in Saraspur to welcome the deities, and the local devotees are filled with excitement.

The grand procession started early in the morning at 8 am from the famous Jagannath Temple in Ahmedabad, where the sacred water was taken to perform rituals at the Somnath Bhudar of the Sabarmati River.

At 8.30 am, the Ganga Poojan ritual was performed. After the pooja, water was filled in 108 kalash (sacred pots) and brought back to the temple, where a grand Jalabhishek (ritual bathing) of Lord Jagannath was carried out.

The Lord was then adorned in a special elephant attire (Gajvesh) symbolising Lord Ganesha. A Mahaprasad (divine feast) has been organised in the temple premises at noon.

The Sabarmati River had been cleaned over a span of 20 days, and two days ago, water was released into the river by the irrigation department in preparation for the Jalayatra. m

However, just before the event, the river became infested with water hyacinth. From Atal Bridge to Sardar Bridge, the water turned green due to the spread of this aquatic plant.

The Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC) had to deploy machines and remove about 54 tonnes of water hyacinth.

Authorities claimed that 945 tonnes of waste were removed during the recent cleaning drive. However, at the very spot from where the water was collected in 108 kalash for the pooja, water hyacinth had drifted back into the river.

Upon learning this, authorities quickly resumed cleaning operations and promised that the river would be cleared of water hyacinth before the Jalayatra.