The nine day long spectacular Rathyatra of Lord Jagannath began today with religious fervor. The festival celebrates the annual visit of the God to his birthplace.In Puri, Odisha, lakhs of visitors from within the country and abroad are pouring in to have a glimpse of their favorite gods. The deities Lord Jagannath, brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra have been taken in their respective chariots. They were offered prayers by Jagat Guru Sankaracharya .The king of Puri Gajapati Maharaj did the traditional cleanse of the grand road by a golden broom after the deities were taken into the chariots.In Ahmedabad, Rathyatra of Lord Jagannath began this morning from the 400-year-old Jagannath temple in Jamalpur area amidst tight security as devotees jostled to have the first glimpse of the deity. The Rathyatra is taken out at 110 places in Gujarat, and the procession in Ahmedabad has the longest tradition. Following the tradition, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi did the symbolic 'road cleaning' ahead of passage of chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balram and their sister, Subhadra.In the National Capital, processions are being taken out from Jagannath temples at Hauz Khas and Thyagaraja Nagar.