Jagannath Temple, Ahmedabad

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Jagannath Temple
Jagannath Temple Ahmedabad.jpg
Religion
Affiliation Hinduism
District Ahmedabad
Deity Jagannath
Festivals Rath yatra (Ahmedabad)
Governing bodyShree Jagannath Mandir Trust Committee
Location
Location Jamalpur, Ahmedabad
State Gujarat
Country india
Ahmedabad locator map.svg
Om symbol.svg
Shown within Ahmedabad
India Gujarat location map.svg
Om symbol.svg
Jagannath Temple, Ahmedabad (Gujarat)
Geographic coordinates 23°00′41.1″N72°34′51.2″E / 23.011417°N 72.580889°E / 23.011417; 72.580889
Website
www.jagannathjiahd.org

The Jagannath Temple is a temple dedicated to the Hindu God Jagannath in the city of Ahmedabad in the Gujarat state of India. The temple is famous for its annual chariot festival, the Rath Yatra, which is the third most important and largest after the Ratha Yatra at Puri. The temple remains open for devotees from 04:30 AM to 01:00 PM and 03:00 PM to 09:00 PM daily.

Contents

The spire of Jagannath temple, Ahmedabad Ahmedabad2007-269.JPG
The spire of Jagannath temple, Ahmedabad

The Rath Yatra

The annual Rath Yatra coincides with the Rath Yatra in Puri. As per tradition elephants have the first glimpse of Jagannath, his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra and lead the procession. [1] The Chief Minister of Gujarat performs the 'Pahind Vidhi' or the symbolic cleaning of the path for chariot of Jagannath for the rath yatra, after which the procession begins. [2] The rath yatra entourage passes through different parts of the city of Ahmedabad covering a distance of about 14-km. The yatra halts at Saraspur, where the locals offer 'Maha Bhoj' to the entire entourage of devotees of Lord Jagannath. It is celebrated as 'Lokotsav' or public festival of the state of Gujarat. The Ahmedabad Rath Yatra is known to be the third largest Rath Yatra festival after the Rath Yatra festivals in Puri and Kolkata are celebrated on the same day.

Attack on the temple during the 1969 Gujarat Riots

On 18 September 1969, a Muslim crowd gathered in the Jamalpur area to celebrate the local Urs festival at the tomb of a Sufi saint (Bhukhari Saheb's Chilla). When the Sadhus of the nearby Jagannath temple tried to bring their cows back to the temple compound through the crowded streets, some Muslim women were injured. The cows also allegedly damaged some carts on which the Muslims were selling goods. [3] This led to violence in which some Muslim youths attacked and injured the sadhus, and damaged the temple windows. [4] Sevadasji, the mahant (priest) of the Hindu temple, went on a protest fast, which he gave up after a 15-member Muslim delegation led by A.M. Peerzada met him and apologized.[ citation needed ]

However, subsequently, a dargah (tomb shrine) near the temple was damaged by some Hindus. A large number of Muslims protestors gathered in the area. On the afternoon of 19 September, a crowd of 2500-3000 Muslims attacked the temple again. Following this, the rumors spread and the violence escalated, resulting in several incidents of arson, murders and attacks on the places of worship around the area.[ citation needed ]

Connectivity

By Road - The city of Ahmedabad is well connected to every major city of Gujarat by roadways. lots of private and public buses ply to the Jagannnath Temple.

By Air - Ahmedabad is connected to all major cities around the globe by airways. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel international airport, Ahmedabad receive flights from all over the world.

By Train - Ahmedabad city is also connected to the major cities of Gujarat by Railways. Ahmedabad railway station receive trains from many cities. There is a train to Jagannnath temple from Ahmedabad. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

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Jagannatha is a deity worshipped in regional Hindu traditions in India as part of a triad along with his brother Balabhadra, and sister, Subhadra. Jagannath, within Odia Hinduism, is the supreme god, Purushottama, and the Para Brahman. To most Vaishnava Hindus, particularly the Krishnaites, Jagannath is an abstract representation of Krishna, or Vishnu, sometimes as the avatar of Krishna or Vishnu. To some Shaiva and Shakta Hindus, he is a symmetry-filled tantric form of Bhairava, a fierce manifestation of Shiva associated with annihilation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ratha Yatra (Puri)</span> Hindu Odia chariot festival dedicated to the deity Jagannath

The Ratha Yatraof Puri, also rendered as the Ratha Jatra, is considered the oldest and largest Hindu chariot festival celebrated annually, on the bright half of the lunar month of Ashadh (June–July). The festival is held at the city of Puri, in the state of Odisha, India and associated with the deity Jagannath. During the festival, three deities are drawn by a multitude of devotees in three massive, wooden chariots on bada danda to Gundicha Temple whereby they reside there for a week and then return to the Jagnannath temple. This return trip is referred to as the Bahuda Yatra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puri</span> City in Odisha, India

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Salabega was an Odia religious poet of India in the early 17th century who wrote Jagannatha bhajanas. He was Muslim by birth but his devotion for the Hindu God made Lord Jagannath stop his Ratha Jātrā in Odisha for him to get darshan. His famous Bhajan 'Ahe Nila Saila' lives to this day.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gundicha Temple</span> Hindu temple in Puri, Odisha, India

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jagannath Temple, Alwar</span> Hindu temple

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References

  1. "136th Jagannath rath yatra begins in Ahmedabad amid tight security". India Today. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  2. "Jagannath Rath Yatra begins in Gujarat". NDTV. PTI. 21 June 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
  3. Pingle Jaganmohan Reddy (1 January 1999). The Judiciary I Served. Orient Blackswan. pp. 191–193. ISBN   978-81-250-1617-5 . Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  4. Ornit Shani (12 July 2007). Communalism, Caste and Hindu Nationalism: The Violence in Gujarat. Cambridge University Press. pp. 161–164. ISBN   978-0-521-68369-2 . Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  5. "Shree Jagannath Temple in Ahmedabad - Jai Shree Jagannath Ji" . Retrieved 21 November 2021.