Grand functions held at Parade, Cricket Stadium Srinagar
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Oct 12: Like other parts of the country, Dussehra which is also known as vijayadashmi was celebrated across J&K with religious fervour and gaiety today. The biggest function was held at Parade Ground Jammu where the effigies of demon King Ravan, his brother Kumbkaran, ,son Meghnath and Ravan’s Lanka were torched to ashes.
The festival is celebrated as victory of good over evil across the country from centuries together in memory of Lord Ram’s victory over demon King Ravana. Thousands of people attended the function in which MP from Jammu- Reasi Lok Sabha constituency, Jugal Kishore Sharma was the chief guest. The function was attended by police and civil officers and representatives of trade, Dharmarth Trust, Sanatan Dharam Sabha (SDS) and other organisations.
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As the effigies were torched to flames, the slogans ‘Jai Shri Ram’ by enthusiastic devotees rent the air. A traditional Puja was performed before torching the effigies to flames. Earlier Rath (Chariot) of Lord Rama was brought from holy Raghunath temple and another Rath came from Natak Samaj Dewan Mandir to Parade Ground. This was followed by Puja of Lord Rama at Parade Ground by Maha Mandleshwar, Rameshwar Dass, president Sanatan Dharam Sabha, Parshotam Dadhichi, secretary Dharmarth Trust and other dignitaries.
After performing Puja in a traditional way, the Lord Rama’s consort Sita was freed from the Lanka where she was kept in captivity of Ravana. After freeing Sita the Lanka was set ablaze by Lord Rama which followed torching the effigies of demon King Ravana, his brother Kumbkaran and son Meghnath amid chanting of Jai Shri Ram by the gathering.
The stage was managed by Prabhat Singh, general secretary, Sanatan Dharam Sabha (SDS). The authorities had made elaborate arrangements for the celebrations. The Parade was closed for traffic during the day.
Earlier, Jugal Kishore Sharma and Parshotam Dadhichi threw light on significance of celebrating the festival.
To keep tradition alive many people were seen taking burnt fragments of Ravana’s effigy to their home believing it would drive away evil spirits and ensure peace and prosperity.
In connection with Dussehra celebrations, a grand function was held at Cricket Stadium, Srinagar near Church Lane in which former Chief Minister and president National Conference (NC), Dr Farooq Abdullah was the chief guest.
The function was also attended by civil and police officers besides a large number of people. The speakers highlighted the significance of the festival on the occasion.
The Dussehra was also celebrated in other parts of Valley including Anantnag town, Mattan and Vessu Migrant Colony with traditional fervour and gaiety.
For first time in last 34 years, Dussehra was celebrated at reverd shrine of Kheer Bhawani, Tulmulla Ganderbal.
In Jammu region, the Dussehra was celebrated at Dussehra ground Rajouri in which a large number of people witnessed torching of effigies of demon King, Ravan, his brother and son. DC Rajouri Abhishekh Sharma was the chief guest on the occasion.
Dussehra was celebrated in a traditional way at Ramban. The devotees also offered prayers in different temples in the town. Later an impressive function was held by SDS Dussehra Committee, Ram Natak Club and RSS Unit of Ramban at Government Higher Secondary School Ramban where the effigies of demon king, his brother, son and Lanka were torched.
On the occasion of Dussehra, the Shastar Pujan (worship of arms) is also being done and in this connection various functions were held across the Jammu region. Bajrang Dal, a youth wing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) held a function of Shastar Pujan (worship of arms) at VHP Headquarters, Shakti Ashram Rehari. VHP working president Rajesh Gupta was the chief guest on the occasion. He said along the Shastras (religious scriptures) the youth of the country should have full knowhow of arms also.
Bajrang Dal convener, Kartik Sudan said that before the Mahabharata the Pandavas also worshiped arms and Lord Rama before killing Ravna had also worshiped arms. He said there are many evidences in Sanatan Dharma about the Shastar Pujan for thousands of years. The VHP and BD leaders including Rajinder Gupta, Dr S S Sambyal, Rajesh Bhasin and others were present.
Dussehra was also celebrated at Kathua, Samba, Udhampur, Kishtwar, Doda and Bhadarwah in a traditional way and thousands of people witnessed the torching of the effigies of the demon King and his kin.
Shastar Pujan was also performed by RSS activists at various places today on the occasion of Vijay Dashmi.
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