For the ninth time, Chief Minister Narendra Modi performed the sacred rites at the Lord Jagannath Temple to kick off the 133 rd Jagannath Rath Yatra in the city on Tuesday. Hon'ble CM Narendra Modi is the first Chief Minister to perform the Rathyatra Rites successively for the ninth time.

 

 

Hon'ble CM offered his prayers with golden chaamar (ceremonial hand fan) and pulled Bhagwan Jagannath's main chariot from the historic temple up to the starting point of the Rath Yatra route. For the Mangal Aarti that he performed in the wee hours, he offered cooked rice to the Lord as prasad.

 

 

Addressing thousands of devotees outside the temple, Shri Modi said the people of Gujarat have special love and affection for Lord Jagannath. As Bhagwan Jagannath is considered to be Lord of the Common Man and the Destitute, The Chief Minister considered it as a rare privilege to have participated in the ritual and served the poor, true to the high traditions and rich heritage of the occasion.

 

 

Thousands of devotees poured out on the street to witness the precession of the 133 rd Jagannath Rath Yatra. ‘Devotees at the temple gave out a cheer when the CM went in temple and waved at them. Later, when the Yatra began, some devotees were spotted wearing mask of Narendra Modi. The mask was widely used ahead of the 2007 assembly and 2009 Loksabha Elections, but they made an unexpected reappearance at the religious event'- From DNA