No BJP MLA Present to Welcome Jagannath Temple Mahant at AMC During Rath Yatra

An unusual lapse marked this year's Rath Yatra celebrations in Ahmedabad after no BJP MLA was present to welcome Jagannath Temple Mahant Dilipdasji Maharaj at the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) headquarters, breaking with a long-standing tradition.

The Mahant initially walked past the civic headquarters without a formal reception before later returning after officials realised the oversight.

Traditional Welcome Missed

Every year, when the Rath Yatra reaches the AMC headquarters, the Mahant is ceremonially welcomed inside the civic body's campus.

This year, Mahant Dilipdasji Maharaj was walking alongside the lead elephant instead of travelling in a jeep at the front of the procession.

However, when he reached the AMC office, neither BJP MLAs nor civic office-bearers were present at the designated welcome point. As a result, the Mahant continued with the procession without the customary reception.

Mahant Returns After Officials Realise Oversight

Once senior officials and public representatives realised that the welcome ceremony had been missed, they reportedly contacted the Mahant and requested him to return.

According to sources, after the three main chariots had already crossed the AMC premises, the Mahant returned to the civic headquarters, where the traditional welcome ceremony was subsequently held.

No BJP MLA Present

Sources said that while BJP MLAs have traditionally attended the ceremony at the AMC headquarters, not a single BJP MLA was present when the Mahant first arrived this year.

MP Dinesh Makwana was present at the AMC office earlier in the day, but no BJP MLA was available to receive the Mahant at the scheduled time.