In many cities of Gujarat like Amdavad,
Surat, Bhavnagar, etc, glorious
processions are carried out annually with devotional fevour
and joy.
The Jagannath Mandir in Amdavad organises a yatra through the
walled
areas of the city. People make kaleidoscopic Raths and floats
of various
materials mounted on trucks. This year many youth and
religious organizations
in the city of Amdavad constructed ninety-eight Raths, which
followed
the Jagannath Mandir's fifteen decorated elephants. Onlookers
and devotees
thronged the narrow alleys, buildings and balconies, patiently
awaiting
up to three hours for the 5-km-long colorful procession to
pass by at
a sedate pace. When the chariots with the murtis arrived,
people ritually
sprinkled rice and gulal powder as a form of puja. The
participants
sitting in these raths liberally handed out fistfuls of
prasadam of raw, sprouted mung beans. Children were given sweets and
confectionary.
Finally, at the rear were three raths of Subhadra, Balaram and
Lord
Krishna. These were all hand-drawn and pushed by devotees. The
flurry
and festive excitement was enhanced by the jubilant chanting
of `Jai
Ranchhod Makhan Chor'.
