Rath Yatra LIVE Updates: 146th Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath starts in Ahmedabad

09:19 (IST)

Rath Yatra LIVE Updates 

PM Modi greets people on annual Rath Yatra Festival

Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his congratulations to the Rath Yatra, which begins today in Odisha's Puri.

In a tweet he said may the "divine journey of Lord Jagannath" fill everyone's lives with health, happiness and spiritual enrichment.

Rath Yatra greetings to everyone. As we celebrate this sacred occasion, may the divine journey of Lord Jagannath fill our lives with health, happiness and spiritual enrichment. pic.twitter.com/ATvXmW3Yr0— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 20, 2023

09:08 (IST)

Ukraine Explosions LIVE Updates 

Explosions rock Western Ukraine city of Lviv

Russia conducted a nocturnal air strike on the Western Ukrainian city of Lviv, rattling it and the surrounding region with explosions, Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi claimed on the Telegram messaging app early Tuesday. It was unclear if the explosions were caused by Ukraine's defensive systems resisting the attack or by the target being struck.

08:38 (IST)

Rath Yatra LIVE Updates 

146th Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath starts in Ahmedabad

In Gujarat's Ahmedabad city, the 146th Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath began on Tuesday morning behind heavy security as thousands of worshippers throng the 18-km path of the procession to catch a sight of the god.

According to a senior police officer, the Gujarat Police have employed 3D mapping technology for the first time during the Rath Yatra to monitor the whole route. They have also deployed anti-drone equipment to guarantee that no illegal drones are used during the event.

The chariots of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balbhadra, and sister Subhadra set out on the yatra from the 400-year-old Jagannath Temple in the Jamalpur area after Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel performed the symbolic ritual known as "Pahind Vidhi" in the morning.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah performed 'Mangala aarti' (an auspicious rite to offer respect to the god) in the temple early on Tuesday morning before the annual festival got underway.

08:30 (IST)

Rath Yatra LIVE Updates 

Amit Shah participates in 'Mangla Aarti' at Jagannath temple ahead of 'Rath Yatra'

Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, participated in the 'Mangla Aarti' (a religious rite) at the Jagannath temple before the Rath Yatra in the Jamalpur region while visiting Gujarat for a day.

After the Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra, the 'Ratha Yatra' Festival held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, is regarded as the second-largest Rath Yatra in the nation.

#WATCH | Ahmedabad, Gujarat: Union Home Minister Amit Shah participates in Mangla Aarti at Jagannath Temple, before the Jagannath Rath Yatra 2023. pic.twitter.com/JgiQV0J2np— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2023

08:27 (IST)

Rath Yatra LIVE Updates 

Rath Yatra: An eco-friendly chariot in Odisha's Puri

Bhubaneswar: Miniature artist L.K. Ishwar Rao made an eco-friendly chariot in connection with the lord Jagannath Yatra in Odisha's Puri.

Miniature artist L. Ishwar Rao said, "I have made this chariot out of paper. The length of the chariot is 9 inches. Along with this, I have… pic.twitter.com/eDbuWgtVek— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2023

08:05 (IST)

PM Modi LIVE Updates 

US visit will be opportunity to enrich depth, diversity of our partnership: PM Modi

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that his trip to the US would be a chance to deepen and diversify the bilateral relationship between India and the US and that the two nations would be stronger working together to address common global concerns.

President Joseph Biden and First Lady Jill Biden invited Modi to the US for a state visit, and this "special invitation" is a reflection of the vigour and vitality of the partnership between the two democracies, Modi stated in his departure statement prior to his trip to the US and Egypt.

Modi departed for the US early in the day. He will travel to Egypt after leaving the US and then return to India.

07:53 (IST)

PM Modi LIVE Updates 

PM Modi leaves for first State visit to US

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed on his first-ever State visit to the United States.

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden extended an invitation to PM Modi. The trip will start in New York, where the prime minister will preside over the International Day of Yoga ceremonies on 21 June at the UN building.