Rath Yatra begins at Jagannath Temple in Ahmedabad amid Covid-19 curfew

The 144th annual rath yatra of Lord Jagannath began in Ahmedabad early on Monday, with Puri slated to hold the iconic chariot pulling later in the afternoon today. Th festival is being observed under strict Covid-19 restrictions: sans devotees and curfews being enforced to prevent people from gathering.

The 144th annual rath yatra of Lord Jagannath began in Gujarat's Ahmedabad city on Monday morning, but it was devoid of the usual festive fervour and crowds due to the curfew imposed on its route to bar people from taking part in it in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. To prevent people from gathering on roads for a glimpse of the deities, a curfew has been imposed on the entire 19-km route of the procession from early morning till afternoon. Before the idols of the deities were placed on the chariots, Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the temple at around 4 am and took part in the 'mangla aarti'.