Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Oct 22: Dussehra marking victory of good over evil was celebrated today with great charm and enthusiasm in Jammu region with people consigning the portraits of Ravana, Kumbkaran and Meghnath to flames at various places.
The biggest function was held at Parade Ground here which was organized by Sanatan Dharam Sabha (SDS) in coordination with other Hindu organizations.
During the function Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh was the chief guest while the function was presided over by Minister of State for Education and Culture, Priya Sethi. A large number of people drawn from different parts of the city thronged the Parade Ground to witness the Dussehra function and crumbling of statues of demon king Ravana, his brother Kumbkaran and son Meghnath.
Earlier, a ‘Sawari’ of Lord Rama along with his Sena was taken out from historical Raghunath Mandir to Parade on a specially decorated chariot.
The portraits of demon king, his brother, son and Lanka were consigned to flames after the Swari of Lord Rama, Laxman and their Sena reached Parade. First Lanka fell into ashes, which was followed by Meghnath and Kumbkaran and at last Ravana was razed to ground.
Earlier, the pooja -archana was performed by chief guest and other dignitaries including MoS Priya Sethi, MP and BJP State president Jugal Kishore Sharma, MLAs Sat Sharma (CA) and Rajesh Gupta, Mahant Rameshwar Dass Ji, president SDS, Jagdish Raj Dogra, BJP leader Yudhvir Sethi, senior Party leader, Mamta Singh and others.
The enthusiastic members of SDS and other Hindu organizations busted crackers producing a deafening sound on the occasion.
Addressing the function, Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh said Dussehra is a great festival marking the victory of good over evil. He said Ravana who is symbol of evil at last met his fate. He said the nation and the State is today facing many challenges like terrorism, corruption and inefficiency but the coalition Government is committed to weed this all out.
While classifying the terrorists with Ravana, he said “we are facing a big challenge of terrorists in J&K for over last decades and the Government is committed to weed it out”.
Dr Singh said it is a matter of happiness that Dussehra was celebrated in Srinagar today where Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed was chief guest in the function. This is a good sign as the Government wants that peace and brotherhood prevail in the State.
On Pakistan, he said the nation which supported terrorism against India and was sending armed desperados to this side of border is now itself confronted with the problem of terrorism.
Addressing the function, MoS Education and Culture, Priya Sethi said the Navratra festival and Dussehra reminds us how the two demons Maheshasur and Ravana were eliminated by Goddess Durga and Lord Rama respectively. She said coalition is committed to the development of the State by weeding out terrorism, corruption and giving a befitting reply to divisive forces.
SDS president Jagdish Raj Dogra made the welcome address while the stage was managed by Mahant Dr Jagpuran Dass.
The function was also attended by former Union Minister, Chaman Lal Gupta, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Dr Pawan Kotwal, IG Jammu Danesh Rana, DIG Jammu, Ashkoor Wani and DC Jammu, Simrandeep Singh.
Dussehra was celebrated in other parts of the city, as well as district headquarters of Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Rajouri, Kishtwar, Ramban and Doda. The festival was also celebrated at Mendhar where the devotees took out a religious procession.
On the eve of Dussehra, large number of Hindu devotees residing in Leh visited the Hare Krishana Mandir to offer prayers today. The festival is being organized by the Hindu Trust (Maha Sabha) Leh wherein large number of Hindus and their families residing in Leh esthetically participated.
Earlier, Janki procession of Ram-Ravan started from Hare Krishana Mandir via main market and culminated at Polo Ground Leh where the effigies of Ravana, Kumbkaran and Meghnath were set to flames.
Follow our WhatsApp channel