136th rath yatra begins in Gujarat amidst tight security

Amid tight security and surveillance for two unmanned aerial vehicles, 136th Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad this morning.
According to tradition, elephants had the first glimpse of Lord Jagannath and led the procession, which began the year on the Jagannath Temple in 400 iconic Jamalpur.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi performed "Pahind Vidhi '(symbolic cleaning trolley route of Lord Jagannath) for Rath Yatra, which began the process of Lord Jagannath, Lord Baldev and sister Subhadra.
"From Ahmedabad Jagannath Temple Rath Yatra is world famous through. Starting the last 136 years, this tradition still continues and the Lord Jagannathji (charya Nagar) to the city of his vision to people," said Modi.
Modi said he was lucky to have had the opportunity to go through a few feet of the deity to seek its Lessing.
"We all need to pray to Lord Jagannath, that this nation should move towards peace, sadhbhavna (Goodwill), unity, joy and prosperity.
"Monsoon season has begun, and the blessing of Lord Jagannath, I pray that the whole country gets a good rain for our farmers and the poor can benefit from," he said.
According to him, the temple trust, Modi performed the traditional ceremony of "Pahind Vidhi 'for post 12.
Rath Yatra procession will pass through various cities and covers a distance of 14 km.
Rath Yatra will cover some of the most sensitive areas of the city like Kalupur, Prem Darwaja, Delhi Chakla, Dariyapur and Shahpur in the old city.
Tight security measures were in place, and about 127 different places of the city, where the procession will pass.
Yatra Saraspur stops where locals offer "Maha Bhoj" the whole circle of devotees of Lord Jagannath.
Chariot Festival is celebrated on the second day of Sukla paksha (Waxing moon cycle) months of Ashadh, popularly known as the Ashadhi Bij. Now celebrating "Lokotsav" of Gujarat.
Besides Ahmedabad, such yatras will be approximately 140 locations across Gujarat, Modi wrote on his blog.
They made elaborate security arrangements to ensure a peaceful Rath Yatra, in which hundreds of thousands of devotees in and out of the city.
There is heavy deployment of police and paramilitary Central American Armed Forces in the event.
In addition, unmanned, 20 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras have been installed in various locations.
Fourteen companies of paramilitary - BSF (6), RAF (4), Central Reserve Police (2) and the Central Industrial Security Force (2) - Ahmedabad deployed to avoid any untoward incident, officials said.
Eight bomb detection and disposal equipment Squad (BDDS), as well as security measures.
The two DIGP range, 19 superintendents of police 46 assistant superintendents, 160 inspectors, 100 sub-inspectors, police officers and the police chief in 1400, two platoons of police guards SRP women and 25 companies have been brought in from outside the city.