Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 7: In its efforts to revive the disappearing Dogra cultural ethos, Team Jammu along with Jammu Dogra Warriors and Jammu Heritage Society today announced to organize impressive Lohri procession on January 12, to educate the younger generation about age old traditions of Jammu region.
As Jammu region is facing cultural aggression due to anti-Dogra policies being propagated by ruling class since 1947, it has been decided to take this initiative with the participation of youth, elderly people and representatives from all sections of the society.
Addressing a joint press conference here today, Chairman, Team Jammu Zorawar Singh Jamwal, President, Jammu Heritage Society, Bhuvneshwar Gandotra, Chairman, Jammu Dogra Warriors, Varun Magotra, Convenor of the event, Baldev Khullar, noted Dogri poet and Cultural wing head of Team Jammu, Thakur Randheer Singh Raipuria said that the Lohri procession will start on January 12 at 1 p.m from historical Mubarak Mandi complex-seat of erstwhile Dogra rulers and culminate at the world famous Shri Raghunath Temple before passing through different routes of the City. Route of the procession will be especially decorated with buntings, flowers and banners.
“We appeal various shopkeeper associations from Mubarak Mandi to Raghunath Bazaar to welcome the participants who will coming in colourful procession dancing on drumbeats and singing traditional Dogri songs”, they said and added that, “We are organizing this historical event to revive the old tradition when erstwhile Dogra rulers used to celebrate Lohri in similar way by taking out a procession from Mubarak Mandi. All the heads of various communities have also been invited to grace the occasion.”, they said and added that memory of Maharaja Hari Singh’s time will be refreshed in the mind of elderly people of the walled city when Lohri procession passed through their locality.
The speaker further pointed out that culture and ethos of Dogras were under threat due to cultural aggression by the successive democratic elected Government of State after 1947. “We are facing identity crisis. It is high time for Dogra to wake up otherwise Dogra culture and ethos would be a history”, they warned and added that aim of event is to educate younger generation about our cultural festivals like Lohri.
Besides, folk singers, dancers from far flung areas of Jammu region, number of school students of city have also been roped in to become part of mega event which included Environment Educational Institute, Jain Bazar, Little Buds Public School and Jammu Samajik Manch, Jhullaka Mohalla.
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