Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 10: In a grand celebration at the ancient Shri Raghunath Ji Temple in Jammu, the Rajmata Tara Devi Sankirtan Mandal, led by its chairperson Dr Ritu Singh, organized a Maha Aarti to commemorate the 94th birthday of Dr Karan Singh, the former Sadr-e-Riyasat of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Temple premises, adorned with the glow of oil lamps and the fragrance of incense, witnessed a traditional ceremony reminiscent of those held in Haridwar, Rishikesh and Kashi.
Dr Karan Singh graced the occasion as the chief guest, accompanied by Ajatshatru Singh, Ranvijay Singh, Dr Ritu Singh, Adhishree Singh, Brig RS Langeh, president of J&K Dharmarth Trust, Ashok Sharma, secretary, and other prominent personalities.
The Maha Aarti was conducted by seven specially trained Pujaris from Purmandal and comprised five distinct rituals: 33 Koti Devi Ki Aarti with Aggarwati, Ganga Maiya Aarti, Bhagwan Shiv Aarti of Mantalai, Shiv Tandav Stotra Aarti, and Bhagwan Ram Ji Archana. Devotees were sanctified with Amrit Jal amidst the chanting of Vedic mantras by students of Shri Ranbir Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya, Birpur.
Renowned singers Seema Murti, Sonali Dogra and Raghuvir Raghuvanshi captivated the audience with soulful bhajans. Dr Karan Singh stated that it was the first time he had witnessed such a grand ceremony at the temple, which houses 12 lakh Shaligrams of Lord Narayana and enshrines 365 deities.
In her address, Dr Ritu Singh emphasized the Sankirtan Mandal’s mission to revitalize the spiritual heritage of J&K through such initiatives. She also highlighted the contributions of Tara Devi in promoting social welfare and cultural preservation across Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh.
The event saw contributions from Rajesh Dewan, Jirendra Gupta, Anoop Jain, Tanishq Mahajan, and Baldev Khullar, along with the support of associations from Raghunath Bazaar, Karan Market, and other prominent markets of Jammu.
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