Shobha yatras taken out in north Gujarat

Palanpur, July 16 (UNI) 'Shobha yatras', marked by religious fervour, were taken out throughout North Gujarat today on the auspicious day of 'Ashadi Bij'.

The main procession was taken out in Visnagar, where more than one lakh people thronged the town from across the district. ''It is the biggest one in North Gujarat,'' claimed an organiser.

Amid blowing of conches and beating of drums, the Rath Yatra began with thousands of devotees pulling the well-decorated traditional rath.

According to Police Station officer Visnagar Somabhai Rathod, tight bandobust was in force at all sensitive places, including the Navavas area.

A large police contingent, including two Dy SPs, 3 Inspectors, 9 Sub Inspectors and a hundreds of SRP Jawans, were deployed for the peaceful completion of the biggest religious congregation of the region.

However, Palanpur was the only place in the state where the Rath yatra was taken out from Lord Rama's Temple as there is no notable shrine of Lord Jagannath or Krishna in the town.

UNI