Devotees throng temples from early morning
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU Aug 19: Janamashtami-the birthday of Lord Krishna was celebrated with traditional religious fervor and gaiety across Jammu and Kashmir today.
All the temples of Lord Krishna in Jammu and other parts of the region as well as in Srinagar and other areas of Valley were fully decorated by the devotees befitting the occasion.
A huge enthusiasm was found among the devotees as the festival was celebrated after a gap of two years as due to COVID pandemic no religious get-togethers were held during 2020 and 2021.The rush of devotees in the temples started early in the morning and it continued up to midnight. Besides, Bhajan Kirtan, dance and lectures on the life of Lord Krishna and his teachings the religious discourses were also held on the philosophy of Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta by the scholars.
The devotees and various temple committees took out impressive Shoba Yatras in the capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar with dozens of Jhankis depicting different aspects of Lord Krishna’s life. Grand functions were held at Raghunath Mandir Jammu, ISKCON, temple Dream City Muthi, Gandhi Nagar temple, Lakshmi Narayan temple Gandhi Nagar and ISKCON temple Srinagar and Udhmpur in which a large number of devotees thronged from early in the morning.
At Raghunath Temple, Jammu, the function was organized by Dharmarth Trust and the devotees continued to throng the temple from early morning till late night. They participated in Bhajan -Kirtan and a special Puja was performed during the midnight -the birth time of Lord Krishna. This was followed by serving of prashad to devotees.
The two -day long Janamashtami Mahotsav was held in the ISKCON Temple, Dream City which started yesterday.
On the first day of Mahostav, conch shells were blown and drums were played by Mahostov orgnizers and devotees who also offered special prayers to Lord Krishna.
Puja and Archana was performed during the night and the devotees participated in the Jhulan Seva (Swing Ceremony) for Laddu Gopal. During the programme, cultural activities were performed by the artists related to the Lord Krishna.
A total of 56 (Bogh) dishes were offered to Lord Krishna during the function. After this, the grand Mahabhisheka (ceremonial bath) was held at night and culminated with Mahamangala Arati at midnight.
Those who were present include Arun Anuj Seeky, coordinator ISKCON, Ravi Tangotra, Dheeraj Koul, Rahul Sudan, Deepak, Shubam, Shovit Soodan, Ashwani Didwal, Anil Kumar, Balbir Kumar and others.
A grand Shoba Yatra was taken out from the Lakshmi Narayan temple Gandhi Nagar by the management Committee of the temple led by Gulchain Singh Charak, former Minister and president, Dogra Sadar Sabha (DSS) Jammu. Hundreds of devotees including men and women took part in the Shoba Yatra and paid their obeisance to Lord Krishna on the occasion.
About one dozen Jhankis formed the part of Shoba Yatra and the devotees who participated in the yatra were reciting bhajan -Kirtan in the praise of Lord Krishna enroute.
An impressive Shoba Yatra was also taken out in Janipur by the devotees of Lord Krishna attired in colourful costumes this evening which passed through various areas. The people enroute showered flowers on Shoba Yatra and paid obeisance to Lord Krishna. The Janamashtami was also celebrated at Swami Kumar Ji Geeta Satsang Ashram, Muthi with traditional fervor and enthusiasm by the devotees.
Janamashtami was celebrated with great religious fervor by Rainawari KP Action Committee at Hari Parbhat Dohk Paloura where devotees sung bhajans dedicated to Lord Krishna.
The reports of Janamashtami celebration have reached from other districts of the Jammu region where the holy festival was celebrated with full religious fervor and great devotion.
As per reports, maintaining age old tradition a unique type of Jhaki was taken out Thalora Mandi temple Samba. The Jhanki of Lord Krishna passed through the pond. The hundreds of devotees who were present in the function were reciting Bhajan -Kirtan in praise of Lord. Another colorful programme befitting the occasion was held in Ghagwal temple, Samba in which a large number of devotees drawn from different parts of the town participated.
The Janamashtami was celebrated in Kathua town also where a Shoba Yatra was taken out from Mahakaleshwar temple Krishna Nagar. The Shoba Yatra passing through various parts of the town with a devotee in the role of Vasudev taking Lord Krishna in a basket over his head.
In Kishtwar, a grand Shoba Yatra was taken out and all the temples in the town were decorated with buntings and flowers by the devotees. The Shoba Yatra was taken out from Gouri Shanker temple Kishtwar and culminated at Ram Mandir. A large number of devotees singing bhajans took part in it.
An impressive Shoba Yatra was also taken out from Raghunath Mandir in Ramban town which after passing through various areas later culminated in the Raghunath temple in the evening. The Jhankis were also taken out by other temple committees in the town.
At Udhmpur, the rush of devotees continued in various temples throughout the day. However, the main function in connection with celebration of Janamashtami was held at ISKCON Temple Dhar road.
In Bhaderwah, Janamashtami was celebrated with traditional fervour and a grand Shoba Yatra was taken out in the town by the devotees. The Shoba Yatra started from the ancient Laxmi Narayan temple Bhaderwah and after passing through Higher Secondary School, Seri Bazaar, Vasuki Nag temple it culminated with a grand religious function held at Geeta Bhawan Bhaderwah.
Shiv Shakti Mandir Sanastha Sector 1 Pamposh Colony celebrated Janamashtami with religious fervour and gaiety. People from all walks of life throng Shiv Shakti Mandir and participated in the programme. Ladies Kirtan Mandli including Sangita Chawla, Poonam Luthra, Suman Kalla, Saroj Negi, Rajni, Arti Mengi, Anchal, Asha Sharma, Sakuntla, Jyoti Sharma Raina and others mesmerised the devotees by singing Krishna Bhajans in their melodious voices.
The reports of Janamashtami celebrations have also come from holy town of Katra, Reasi, Doda, Poonch and Rajouri towns.
Meanwhile, Janamashtami-was today celebrated with religious fervor across several areas of Kashmir while like every year a Jhanki was also taken out from Habba Kadal in Srinagar.
On the occasion, elaborate security arrangements were put in place in the areas through which the Jhanki passed while the members of the Kashmiri Pandit community were seen chanting hymns in the praise of Lord Krishna.
The Jhanki was organised by ISKCON and it was taken out from the Ganpatyar area of Habba Kadal which then reached Lal Chowk via the Old Secretariat. From the Clock Tower in Lal Chowk via Amira Kadal, the Jhanki was taken back to Ganpatyar, where it ended.
Earlier, the Jhanki used to be taken out from Ganpatyar and used to reach Lal Chowk via Barbarshah, MA Road, however, this time, its route was changed due to security reasons in the wake of recent attacks on the members of the minority community.
“Today marks the birthday of Lord Krishna and it is an annual affair that we observe with religious fervor and gaiety,” said Sunil, one of the participants of the procession.
He said that the people from the Muslim community always participate in their celebrations on the occasion of Janamashtami. “They have been there always and they are with us today, but the presence of our people today is a bit less due to the recent attacks,” he said.
Another devotee thanked the people of Kashmir for making the Amarnath Yatra successful while urging them to work together to make India stronger.
“We are thankful to the people of Kashmir for making the Amarnath Yatra successful. People have welcomed the Yatris and the tourists coming to Kashmir,” he said adding, that people have to work together to make the country stronger.
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