The day for the auspicious Rathyatra is nearing, and that seems to have filled the Amdavadis with excitement.
The day for the auspicious Rathyatra is nearing, and that seems to have filled the Amdavadis with excitement. Like every year, they are waiting to witness the grand procession of Lord Jagannath, scheduled to be carried out on June 24. The fervour is high especially among those living in the areas falling on the Rathyatra route. Even the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and the police department have started to work extra hours to strengthen security for the peaceful observance of the pious procession.
The yatra starts every year from Jamalpur, where the Jagannath temple is located, and takes a route round the old city before finally stopping at the Ranchodraiji temple in Saraspur, the mythical home of Lord Jagdish, his brother Balram and sister Subhadra. For residents of Saraspur, the occasion is no less than a marriage ceremony. Every one of them has started working whole heartedly to serve the rathyatris. Around 1.5 lakh devotees of Lord Jagannath are expected to turn up for the prasad in just three and a half hours.
The Raths will stop at Saraspur for only about an hour and a half, during which thousands of devotees will gather to catch a glimpse of the Lord. Around 12 poles like Luhar Sheri, Moti Salvi Vaad, Limda Pol, Vasan Sheri, Kadia Vaad, Navaghari No Khancho, Gandhi ni Pol, Ambali Vaad and others, have already geared up
to prepare delicious food for the devotees.
Devotees will be served a full-course meal along with fulwadi and sweets like mohanthad and bundi. Each pol will have a fixed menu and preparations for the D-Day have already begun. At least two-three people from every family will offer service in the kitchen. “We have started making sweets which can be preserved for a couple of days,” said Bhaskar Bhatt, corporator from Saraspur. Puri and shaak will be prepared on the eve of Rathyatra. Around 800-900 kilogram sweets and 1,000 kilogram vegetable are consumed every year on Rathyatra day.
The occasion also attracts a number of people who had moved out from the old city. “We do not have a kitchen in our pol, but we offer service in Moti Salvi Vaad,” said Chinubhai Patel, a resident of Shangar Sheri in Saraspur area.
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