Procession taken out in Srinagar
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 30: Janmashtami- the birthday of Lord Krishna, was celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety across Jammu and Kashmir by adhering to Covid-19 protocol.
People observed fast and offered prayers while all the temples, especially Radha-Krishan temples here were decorated for the occasion.
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Even as Covid protocol restricted heavy rush in the temples and traditional gatherings on the occasion, some devotees were seen visiting the temples and offering prayers.
Iskon temple in Jammu was apparently the most visited temple where devotees were seen performing dance amidst Bhajans and Kirtan in praise of Lord Krishna. Though the decoration and lighting at the temple were more or less the same from the pre-pandemic times, but there was no heavy rush of devotees.
The late night rituals at the temples that used to host thousands of visitors on Janmashtami were attended by the priests and handful of devotees.
Reports from Srinagar said that after a gap of two years, Kashmiri Pandits took out a Janmashtami procession to celebrate the birthday of Lord Krishna on Monday.
Amid tight security arrangements, the procession started from the Ganpatyar temple in the Habba Kadal area of the city and passed through Kralkhud, Barbarshah before reaching the clock tower at the historic Lal Chowk.
The procession crossed over the Amirakadal bridge, passed through the Jehangir Chowk and returned to the temple. The devotees, including men, women and children, danced alongside the chariot and distributed sweets among people.
It was after two years that people were allowed to take out the Janmashtami procession in Srinagar. There was no procession in 2020 due to COVID-19 while the lockdown imposed in the wake of abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in August 2019 had led to the cancellation of the event.
Reports from Samba, Poonch, Rajouri, Arnia, and other places said that similar Janmashtami processions were taken out and Prasad was distributed among the devotees.
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