Mass Gathering at 148th Annual Chariot Festival in Ahmedabad, Attracting Thousands of Participants
Ahmedabad's 148th Rath Yatra Kicks Off With AI and Tradition
The bustling city of Ahmedabad paid host to the 148th annual Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath this past Friday, with thousands flocking to the streets to catch a glimpse of the divine deity.
The raths, or chariots, of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balbhadra, and sister Subhadra made their exit from the 400-year-old temple in the Jamalpur area, perched atop the shoulders of the Khalasi community as they adhered to the age-old tradition.
The three chariots, accompanied by a harmonious symphony of 18 elephants, 100 trucks, devotional groups, and local gymnasiums, embarked on a 16-kilometer journey through the old city. The city's history bore witness to the vibrant procession, including various communally sensitive areas, all the while maintaining an air of peace and unity.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and his family, along with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, were among the devotees who participated in the morning prayers at the Jagannath temple. The former performed 'pahind vidhi', a traditional ceremony of symbolic cleaning of roads using a golden broom.
The Rath Yatra typically draws an impressive crowd, and this year was no exception. With up to 1.5 million people congregating along the route, safety measures were paramount in maintaining the continuity of the celebrations.
Police forces took up their positions, deploying a record-breaking 23,800 security personnel to ensure the crowd was kept under control and to monitor any potential threats.
Breaking ground this year was the introduction of a revolutionary AI-based surveillance system to handle the crowd. For the first time, Ahmedabad police utilized a sophisticated tool developed by a local startup that utilized real-time data from live CCTV footage and drone feeds to manage the crowd's flow and help prevent dangerous situations like stampedes.
The AI system was designed to analyze crowd density in real-time, identifying potentially overcrowded areas and sending instant alerts to the police control room, while also sending timely notifications to the fire department in the event of a fire emergency.
The setup included over 300 CCTV cameras and nearly 60 drones streaming live footage to a central control room at the city police commissioner's office. Police officers were equipped with body cameras, and GPS devices were fixed on the three chariots for real-time tracking. A mobile monitoring van processed live footage on the ground, providing on-site support and training for trainee officers.
Senior police officials kept watch on the Rath Yatra procession via 2,872 body-worn cameras, 41 drones, 96 cameras installed at different locations, and 25 watch towers. Ahead of the Rath Yatra, police had organized several meetings with peace, mohalla, women's committees, and religious leaders to maintain communal unity and harmony.
All in all, the 2022 Ahmedabad Rath Yatra seamlessly melded traditional festivities with advanced technology like the AI-based surveillance system, prioritizing crowd and security management to ensure the overall success and safety of the celebrations.
The use of an advanced AI-based surveillance system during the Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad showcased a blend of tradition and modern technology, aiming to manage the crowd effectively. This year's cultural-travel experience in Ahmedabad also included travel through the old city, providing tourists an opportunity to witness the vibrant procession and the city's rich history.
