Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 10: Like other parts of the country, Shri Krishna Janamashtami was celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety in Jammu region today. All Krishna temples all over the region were fully decorated and illuminated befitting the occasion.
There was bee -lines of devotees in all the Krishna temples from early the morning to pay their obeisance to Lord Krishna and participate in special pooja. The Bhajan Kirtan, religious discourses, taking out of Shoba yatras and holding of community feasts besides ‘Dhai Handi’ breaking of pitchers were held at different places to mark the celebrations.
Special Pooja was held in historical Raghunath temple here during the midnight in connection with birth of Lord Krishna. The day long bhajan Kirtan also continued in the temple where a large number of devotees thronged from early in the morning. The function was organised by Dharmarth Trust. The devotees were served with prashad later.
Another function was held in Krishan temple Purani Mandi under the supervision of Mahant Rameshwar Dass Ji. Besides religious discourses, bhajan kirtan was also held till late in the night. A special music party from Punjab mesmerized the devotees with their bhajans on the occasion.
Chants of ‘Hare Krishna Hare Rama’ and ‘Govinda ala re’ reverberated the air as religious fervour gripped the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple at Dream city Muthi on the occasion of Janmashtami today.
Thousands of devotees as usual attended the function which continued up to midnight.
They offered special ‘ bhog’ to the Lord on the occasion. The devotees waited in long queues outside the temples to have darshan of Lord Krishna.
In his religious discourses, Sarvabhaum Battacharya Dasa highlighted the teachings of Lord Krishna.
A Shoba Yatra was taken out in Janipur on the occasion of Janamashtami today in which a large number of devotees took part.
Besides an impressive Shoba yatra was also taken out in Sarswati Vihar, Patoli Brahmana in which a large number of devotees participated. The yatra after passing via Anuradha Puram and Sharda Colony later culminated at Saraswati Vihar temple.
Janamashtami was also celebrated at 144 Sanjeevani Kuteer Krishna Satsang Bhawan Gareeb Dham, Wazire Bagh Bohri with traditional gaiety and religious fervour. On the occasion Krishan Joola was fully decorated. The devotees recited Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta and Anand Swami Pran Nath Bhat Gareeb (Bhaiji) gave the religious discourses on the occasion.
Reports of Janamashtami celebrations also poured in come from other parts of Jammu region where grand functions were held.
At Poonch an impressive Shoba Yatra was taken out from Sanatan Dharam Sabha in which 40 Jhankis on fully beautifully depicting various aspects of Lord Krishna’s life were taken out. Thousands of devotees from villages of Mangat, Golepur and other areas besides the Poonch city participated in the Shoba Yatra which after passing through various markers culminated at Santan Dharam Sabha Poonch.
An impressive Shoba Yatra was taken out in Rajouri town which started from Geeta Bhawan. The yatra was organised by Sanatan Dharam Sabha Rajouri and after passing from various markets it culminated back at Geeta Bhawan. Hundreds of devotees took part in the yatra.
However one person was injured at when he fell down while performing the ‘Dhai Handi’ ceremony and was hospitalized. Another person was also injured at Nowshera while trying to perform Dhai Handi ceremony during the Janamashtami celebrations in the town. He too was hospitalized.
Impressive Shoba Yatra was also taken out in Mendhar on the occasion of Janamashtami today.
In Kathua district Janamashtami was celebrated with religious fervor and gaiety and functions were held at Narsingh Dev Mandir Ghagwal were a grand mela was organized. Functions were also held in Radha Krishan temples of Billawar and Basoli, Kali Mata temple Kathua, Shiv Ji Mandir Shiv Nagar, Kathua, Jandi village and Jandi Port besides annual melas were held at Mansar and Pandav temple Khoon Majalta on the occasion.
A grand function was also held at Vijaypur on the occasion of Janamashtami today. The function was organized by Ram Leela Committee Vijaypur. On the occasion Matka Fodna (breaking of pitcher) was performed and the youth of Gurah Salathia were awarded Rs 5100 for performing miraculous feat. Former Minister Manjit Singh was the chief guest on the occasion while ex chairman Municipal Committee Vijaypur, Vicky Mahajan and Makhan Lal Gupta a senior citizen of the area were guests of honour.
Janamashtami was also celebrated at Cheechi Mata temple Samba.
In connection with celebrations of Janamashtami, an impressive Shoba Yatra was taken out in Reasi town. The yatra started from Radha Krishan Temple Mandian Reasi and after passing through Main Bazaar, Bus Stand and Nai Basti it culminated at Shiv Mandir. The ‘Dhai Handi’ the ‘Matka Fodna’ ceremony was also performed and the winner was awarded Rs 5100.
An impressive Shoba yatra was taken out in migrant quarters Vessu in South Kashmir district of Anantnag by the newly recruited Pandit employees. The entire camp was fully decorated and welcome gates were erected by the camp inmates to greet the Shoba yatra. The function continued up to late midnight. The bhajan -Kirtan was held in the camp premises and devotees danced to the tune of drum beats.
On the occasion of Janamashtami a bhandara was held at Nagbal shrine Anantnag with which the three day long celebrations culminated in the temple complex today.