Impressive ‘Shoba Yatras’ in Jammu on eve of Janamashtami

Avtar Bhat

‘Shoba Yatra’ being taken out in Jammu on the eve of Janamashtami on Tuesday. (Another pic on page 9) —Excelsior/Rakesh

JAMMU, Aug 27: An impressive ‘Shoba Yatra’ was taken out on the eve of Krishna Janamashtami today which started from Parade Ground here and after passing through various markets culminated at Raghunath Temple.
Hundreds of devotees drawn from different parts of the city and outskirts joined the ‘Shoba Yatra’, which was jointly organized by J&K Dharmarth Trust and Sanatan Dharam Sabha (SDS), Jammu. Though the number of devotees participating in the Shoba Yatra was less when it started from Parade Ground, but soon it swelled after reaching the historical Raghunath Bazar where the holy swari of Lord Krishna was taken out on the traditional chariot.
The devotees were singing bhajans, reciting religious hymns and dancing to the beating of drums enroute. The people in different bazaars had erected welcome gates to greet the Shoba Yatra and it was given a rousing welcome by the members of Muslim community at Khatikan Talab where over 100 prominent members of the community had gathered to greet the Shoba Yatra to keep the traditional and age old brotherhood alive for which Jammu has always given a lead in testing times.
The members of the community led by Muslim Federation had not only erected the welcome gates in the market to receive the Shoba Yatra in a befitting way but they also garlanded the organizers of the Yatra, hugged them and offered juice and ice cream to the yatris.
The authorities had made elaborate security arrangements en-route and a big contingent of police and CRPF was escorting the Shoba Yatra. To avert any untoward incident the top police officers were also accompanying the Yatra.
Over scores of jhankis taken by various social and religious organizations on tractor trolleys and other four wheelers depicting different aspects of Lord Krishna’s life from his birth to Mahabharta were the main attractions of the Shoba Yatra.
The main attraction of the Shoba Yatra was Jhankis from Bapu Asa Ram Ashram, Machail Mata Trust whose Jyot was also taken out in Shoba Yatra, ISKCON, Natak Samaj, Raghunath Mandir, Deewana Mandir and Purani Mandi Mandir etc.
People enroute had made beelines to pay obeisance to Lord Krishna whose Swari was taken out in a fully decorated rath.
The Shoba Yatra, which started from Parade Ground passed via Shalamar Chowk, Hari Market, Residency Road, Shaheedi Chowk, Rajinder Bazar, Kanak Mandi, City Chowk, Purani Mandi, Old Hospital Road, Link Road, Jain Bazar, Chabutra Chowk, Panjtirthi, Mubarak Mandi, Pacca Danga, Moti Bazar, Sabzi Mandi, Raj Tilak Road, Purani Mandi and culminated at Raghunath Bazaar.
At Purani Mandi a prize distribution function was jointly organized by Sanatan Dharam Sabha and Dharmik Yuvak Mandali.
Impressive Shoba Yatra was taken out in Gandhi Nagar also. It started from Laxmi Narayan temple, in the area and after passing through various parts of Gandhi Nagar, it culminated back in the temple. Over dozen jhankis depicting different forms of Lord Krishna’s life were the part of Shoba Yatra.
On the eve of Janamashtami an impressive Shoba Yatra was also taken out in Udhampur today by SDS Udhampur. Various colourful jhankis were the part of Shoba Yatra which started from Chabutra Bazar. Thousands of devotees men, women and children participated in the Shoba Yatra.
All the markets of the town were fully decorated on the occasion and the members of Bazar associations had erected welcome gates to greet the Yatra. The Muslim brethren under the banner of Muslim Welfare Association had also installed the welcome gates and distributed sweets among their Hindu brethren. The Shoba Yatra culminated at Venus Gate.
Impressive Shoba Yatra was also taken out in Akhnoor town today by Ram Lila Club in cooperation with people of the town. The Shoba Yatra started from Radha Krishan temple Akhnoor market and after passing through various markets it culminated back in the temple premises.
A large number of people drawn from different parts of Akhnoor participated in the Shoba Yatra. The devotees had enroute installed stalls to offer cold drinks, juice, sweets and fruit to participants in the Yatra.
New Young Blood Organization on the eve of Janamashtami organized a function at Bal Ashram Ambphalla. The function was by NYBO led by Ashok Verma. The organization on the occasion distributed sweets and fruits among the Ashram inmates and informed them about the religious significance of Janamashtami.