Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 28: Taking of Shoba yatras and holding of religious congregations marked the celebration of Janamashtami throughout Jammu region today.
On the occasion of Janamashtami an impressive Shoba Yatra was taken out in Kishtwar town which witnessed violence on August 9 followed by week long curfew. The Shoba yatra passed peacefully in the town in which thousands of devotees took part. The Shoba Yatra was organized by Sanatan Dharam Sabha (SDS) Kishtwar.
It started from Gori Shanker, Mandir, Sirkot and after covering about two kilometers distance, it culminated at Raghunath Mandir, Kishtwar. The devotees were singing bhajans and reciting Vedic hymns enroute. The seven jhankis on fully decorated vehicles formed the part of Shoba yatra which passed of peacefully in the town.
The district administration led by DC Kishtwar and SSP Kishtwar had made elaborate security arrangements for the Shoba Yatra and they were themselves monitoring the same. The SDS convener, Hans Raj Batyal lauded the role of present administration in making proper arrangements for Shoba yatra.
Taking out of Shoba yatra was followed by bhajan Kirtan and pooja in various temples of the town to celebrate Janamashtami till late in the night. All the temples in the town were fully decorated by the devotees.
All the temples of Lord Krishan in Jammu and other parts of the region were also fully decorated befitting the occasion where the functions continued to late midnight till the birth of Lord.
There was a beeline of devotees in the temples and the main functions were held in Raghunath temple Jammu, Radha Krishan Mandir Geeta Bhawan Parade, Gadha Dhar Mandir, Old City, Radha Krishan Mandir Purani Mandi, Laxmi Narayan Mandir, Gandhi Nagar, International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Temple, Dream City Muthi, Geeta Satsang Ashram Muthi, Radha Krishan Temple Dharmal, Muthi, Radha -Krishan temple Sarore and other Krishna temples of Jammu region.
Besides the Abhishekh of Lord Krishna devotees performed Pooja -archana and paid obeisance to Lord in Radha Krishan temples throughout the region. Special prayers were held for peace and prosperity of the nation on the occasion. Besides, Shoba yatras were taken by various Mandir committees in their localities in which hundreds of devotees took part. They were dancing to the beating of drums and reciting Krishan Bhajans enroute.
The function at historical Raghunath temple was organized by J&K Dharmarth Trust. The entire temple complex gave a festive look as it was fully decorated befitting the occasion. There was a rush of devotees in the temple from early in the morning till late night. The special highlight of the programme was holding of Kirtan by Bhajan Party of Sri Sri Ravi Shanker Ji from 7-30 pm to 11-30 pm. It was followed by pooja till midnight and Bhog of Lord Krishna.
The Janamashtami was also celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety in other temples of the Trust including Pacca Danga temple. The Dharmarth Trust had made all arrangements for the functions in the temples falling under its control.
Hundreds of devotees also thronged the Purani Mandi temple in connection with celebration of Janamashtami and participated in special pooja of Lord Krishna on the occasion till midnight. The devotees were served with Prashad later on.
A grand function to mark the celebration of “Sri Krishna Janam Ashtami”, birth of Lord Krishna was held at International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) Temple, Dream City, Muthi.
Thousands of devotees from every nook and corner of the Winter Capital, thronged the temple and took the blessings of Sri Sri Gaur Radha Krishna.
They worshipped to celebrate the festival and offered special ‘ Bhog’ on the occasion, waiting in queues outside the temples to have darshan of Lord Krishna.
The temple was beautifully decorated with flowers and lights besides special book stalls were also installed highlighting the teachings of Lord Krishna.
Amid blowing of conch shells and chanting of Vedic hymns, worshippers offered prayers since early morning in temples which wore a festive look.
Devotees observed day-long fasts as special delicacies for the occasion remained an attraction.
Earlier the programme started with Mangal Aarti, followed by day long Akhand- Kirtan. In the evening Gaur Aarti was performed with kirtan and devotees were seen dancing on the bhajans of Lord Krishna.
Children dressed as ‘Krishna’ and ‘Gopikas’ and floats depicting various incarnations of the Lord were the highlights of the celebration. Students from various schools performed cultural programmes based on Lord Krishna and mesmerized the gathering with their commendable performance.
Addressing the gathering Sarvabhaum Battacharya Dasa highlighted the teachings of Lord Krishna according to Srimad Bhagwat Gita.
After that Maha Abhishek of Lord Krishna was performed with religious fervor and the devotees were seen dancing while going into the state of trance.
The youth devotees of Lord Krishna were seen excited to break up the “Dahi Handi” (curd-filled pitcher), the main attraction of the programme. The youth in scores break down the “Dahi Handi” to conclude the function.
At last Falahar Prashadam was served to the devotees where the devotees of Lord Krishna also showed their participation with enthusiasm.
A Shoba Yatra was taken by Geeta Satsang Ashram, Muthi under the supervision of Swami Kumar Ji from the Ashram on the occasion of Janamashtami today. A large number of devotees participated in the Shoba Yatra which passed through different parts of Muthi, Roop Nagar, Durga Nagar, Akhnoor road etc.
Later a grand function was held in the Ashram premises till midnight where besides the Jalabhishekh of Lord Krishna by Swami Ji and other devotees Bhajan and Kirtan was also held. The Bhog was performed at midnight during the birth of Lord. Entire Ashram was fully decorated by the devotees.
On the occasion of Janamashtami today, an impressive Shoba yatra was taken out by Saraswati Vihar Welfare Committee Barnai. The Shoba yatra which started from Shiv Temple in the area after passing through, Sarswati Vihar, Sharda Colony and Anuradha Puram culminated in the temple premises later. The yatris enroute were reciting bhajan and Kirtan in praise of Lord. Later Prashad was served to devotees.
Janamashtami was also celebrated by Tirath Raj Trust Mattan at Suriya Bhawan Paloura here. The function continued up to late midnight and a large number of devotees took part in it. Shoba Yatra was also taken out in TRT Nagrota by the Development Committee of the Camp in collaboration with Shiv Anand Temple Committee on the occasion of Janamashtami. Later a grand function was held in connection with birth of Lord Krishna till midnight and the devotees were served prashad after the culmination of function.
Ram Lila Club Sainik Colony took out an impressive Shoba Yatra on the occasion of Janamashtami today in which a large number of devotees participated. The Yatra started from Ram Mandir Sector D of the Colony and culminated at the same place after passing through entire Sainik Colony. The inmates of Sainik Colony and adjoining areas including Greater Kailash, Apna Vihar, Channi and Chowadhi greeted the Shoba yatra enroute.
An impressive Shoba yatra was also taken in Tomal Bohri which started from Aatma Ram Ji Ashram, Tomal and after passing through various localities of the area it culminated in the Ashram premises later. Hundreds of devotees participated in the Shoba Yatra which was organized by Welfare Committee, Laxmi Vihar Tomal, Bohri. The devotees enroute were reciting bhajans and religious hymns.
An impressive Shoba Yatra was also taken out in Jagti township on the occasion of Janamashtami today. The occasion was graced by Prof A N Sadhu, and SHO Nagrota Mr Parvez. The displaced Kashmiri Samaj Youth Wing distributed fruits and offered drinking water to devotees on the occasion.
The Special Children of Asha School Jammu Cantt celebrated Janamashtami at Satwari today with traditional fervour and gaiety. The Principal of the School, Mrs Suman Mathur threw light on the significance of the festival and teachings of Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta in their daily life. A one act play on the life of Lord Krishana was also enacted by the children attired in colourful dress.
Reports coming from other parts of the region said that Janamashtami was celebrated with full religious fervour and gaiety in Kathua, Ghagwal, Hiranagar, Samba, Basholi, R S Pura, Bishnah, Vijaypur, Udhampur, Reasi, holy township of Katra, Rajouri, Nowshera, Sunderbani, Poonch and Mendhar today.
A grand function was held in Radha Krishan temple Shiv Nagar, Kathua, Sat Narayan temple Kathua ,Narsingh Dev Temple Ghagwal, Radhaya Sham Mandir, Ramkot, Jandi Hiranagar and Neelkant temple, Basholi in which hundreds of devotees took part and paid their obeisance to Lord Krishna. Besides an impressive Shoba yatra was also taken in Kathua town.
A colourful Shoba Yatra was taken out in Ramban on the occasion of Janamashtami today. The yatra started from Raghunath temple and it passed through various areas of the town. DC Ramban, M H Malik, SSP Ramban, Javed Mattoo and other senior civil and police officers accompanied Shoba yatra. Besides the DC the members of Muslim community also greeted the Shoba Yatra.
In Poonch, a grand `Shobha Yatra’ was taken out on the occasion of Shri Krishan Janamashtami today in which thousands of people from Poonch town and adjoining villages participated. Nearly, 40 `Raths’ were highly decorated, depicting the `Krishan Leela’ from child hood to the period of Mahabharata. Nearly 15,000 people including women and children participated in this impressive religious procession.
The Shobha Yatra started from Geeta Bhawan, Poonch and after passing through various localities and Bazaars, it finally culminated at the place of its origin. Several senior officers of the administration including DC and SP besides legislators and prominent persons from all the communities were part of this grand procession. The District Administration had made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the `Shobha Yatra’.
In Mendhar town, impressive `Shoba Yatra’ was taken out from Hanuman Mandir. After passing through entire town, it finally culminated at the same temple. A large number of people participated.
In Rajouri, Shobha Yatra was taken out from Sanatan Dharam Sabha and Shiv Mandir, Jawahar Nagar. Various religious and social organizations jointly organized the programme of religious processions in which thousands of people participated. Similar impressive `Jhankies’ on the Shri Krishan Janamashtmi were taken out at Nowshera and Sunderbani towns with great enthusiasm and religious fervor. At Nowshera, `Matki Phorh’ contest was also organized in which many youth participated.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
