Ahmedabad, June 27 -- On the occasion of Ashadhi Bij, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel offered prayers to Lord Jagannath early Friday morning at the temple premises in Ahmedabad, ahead of ceremonially flagging off the 148th Rath Yatra, according to an official statement from the state government.

Upholding the annual tradition, the CM performed Pahind Vidhi, the symbolic ritual of cleaning the chariot. Marking his fourth consecutive year, the CM swept Lord Jagannath Rath with a golden broom before the official commencement of the Yatra.

State Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi, State Cooperation Minister Jagdish Vishwakarma, and Mayor of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, Pratibha Jain, were also present on the occasion.

On the occasion of t...