Jagannath Rath Yatra was banned, Modi stood against the government’s decision, know the 38 year old story

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the countrymen on the occasion of the beginning of Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra. Meanwhile, an interesting story related to Prime Minister Modi’s Jagannath Rath Yatra has been shared from a social media account named ‘Modi Archive’. In this post, some photos related to the Rath Yatra of the year 1985-86 have been shared. It is told that Narendra Modi had made the Jagannath temple in Ahmedabad his/her home.

The Congress government in Gujarat had imposed a ban
A post from an account named ‘Modi Archive’ read, ‘In an attempt to please its voters in 1985-86, the then Congress government in Gujarat banned the 101st Jagannath Rath Yatra. Restrictions and curfews were common during the Jagannath Rath Yatra during the Congress rule. However, a determined young man refused to accept this ban and tried to challenge it. Preparations for the Yatra continued behind the scenes. The chariot was prepared and Mahaprabhu was seated on it. Then, something extraordinary happened. The elephant attached to the chariot broke free from its bonds and started moving forward pulling Mahaprabhu’s chariot along with it.’
Then Modi had challenged the ban imposed by Congress
The post further stated, ‘The ban imposed by the Congress government had now become ineffective. The Jagannath Rath Yatra went ahead with a grand procession, which was named ‘Swayambhu Rath Yatra’ that year. The young man who challenged the ban of the Congress government was ‘Narendra Modi’. he/she came to Ahmedabad in 1970, when Gandhinagar was set to be replaced as the capital of Gujarat. he/she had neither income nor a roof over his/her head, so he/she made the Jagannath temple in Ahmedabad his/her home.’

After serving for a few decades, he/she eventually became the Chief Minister of the state. Under his/her leadership, the Jagannath Rath Yatra was carried out every year with great pomp and fervour. As per traditions, the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi also symbolically cleaned the road through which the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balram and Subhadra passed.