Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 5: Ramnavmi -the birthday of Lord Rama was celebrated with full religious fervor and gaiety across Jammu region today.
The main function of Ramnavmi celebrations was held in the holy Raghunath Mandir Jammu where thousands of devotees from length and breadth of the region as well as pilgrims of Mata Vaishno Devi visited to pay their obeisance to Lord Rama, Lakshman and Sita Mata. The entire Raghunath temple wore a festive look befitting the occasion as it was fully decorated by the Dharmarth Trust which is managing the affairs of Hindu temples in the State.
The devotees also participated in special pooja organized by Dharmarth Trust (DT). The Trustees of DT including Vikramaditya Singh and Ajat Shatru Singh both MLCs, its president B R Kundal and secretary Ajay Jamwal along with office bearers and religious priests also participated in the pooja.
This was followed by taking out of an impressive Shoba yatra from the holy temple. The Shoba Yatra was jointly organized by DT, Raghunath Bazar Welfare Association, Sanatan Dharam Sabha, Rajput Sabha, Brahman Sabha, Mahajan Sabha, Raghunath Bazar, Heritage Society, Kashmiri Pandit Sabha and various other social and religious organizations.
The Shoba yatra started from holy Raghunath temple where from the Sawari of Lord Rama and Sita was taken in the traditional chariot which was fully decorated by the devotees. Earlier the pooja was performed in a traditional way in the temple. A large number of devotees participated in the Shoba Yatra in which scores of Jhankis decorated on tractor trolleys, gypsies and other four wheelers were taken out.
The people enroute had made beelines to greet the Shoba yatra and pay obeisance to Lord Rama and Sita. The devotees were seen watching the Shoba yatra from roof tops of houses and shops in the city and they showered flowers on it.
The residents of various areas and shopkeepers associations as well as Mohalla Committees had erected welcome gates to greet the Shoba yatra. At various places the devotees had installed stalls to serve prashad fruit and soft drinks to participants in the Shoba Yatra.
The Shoba Yatra which started from Raghunath temple after passing via City Chowk, Purani Mandi, Link Road, Jain Bazar, etc later culminated at Raghunath temple in the evening. The members of Muslim and other communities also greeted the Shoba Yatra. The authorities had also made elaborate security arrangements on the occasion for smooth conduct of yatra.
Ramnavmi was also celebrated at Kathua where an impressive Shoba yatra was also taken out by the devotees in the town.
Large number of devotees thronged the temples in Doda district to participate in Ramnavmi celebrations. The religious pujaris organized shoba yatras on the occasion. The Ramnavmi was also celebrated in Udhampur, Samba, Kishtwar and Bhaderwah towns with full religious fervor and gaiety.
In connection with the Ram Navmi festival, a large religious procession was taken out by the people in connection with the Ram Navmi festival in Poonch city.
A large number of people from Poonch and adjoining at least ten villages including Jhallas, Khari Karmara, Magnad, Gulpur, Degwar etc assembled at Geeta Bhawan Poonch and then took out a large procession/ Shobha Yatra in connection with the Ram Navmi. The programme was organised under the supervision of Sanatan Dharam Sabha president Poonch, Satish Sasan and other members of the SD Sabha in coordination with other social, youth, trade and religious organizations of Poonch.
Despite rain, the devotees with great enthusiasm carrying umbrellas participated in the Shobha Yatra. A large number of women and children also attended the programme. The senior officers of the District Administration were also accompanying and elaborate security arrangements had been made for the smooth conduct of the Yatra.
The religious procession after passing through various markets, bazaars and mohallas and historic temples like Dungas Mandir and Khaha Naban Temple, finally culminated at Geeta Bhawan. Several NGOs had set up stalls of eatables and drinks (sweet water/ Sharbat) for the devotees.
In Rajouri also, a large Shobha Yatra was taken out today by the people in connection with the Ram Navmi. The people from Hindu community assembled at Sanatan Dharam Sabha Bhawan in Rajouri town and then took out an impressive Shobha Yatra. Not only from Rajouri town, members of Hindu community from several adjoining villages also participated in the Ram Navmi procession.
The members from SD Sabha and also from various NGOs/ social organizations had decorated tractor trolleys by converting them into chariots, with children clad in different dresses/ attire depicting distinct `Swaroopas’ of Bhagwan Shri Ram. A large number of women and children also participated in the Shobha Yatra which passed through various markets and localities of the town and finally culminated at the same place. Various senior district officers also participated in the Jhanki. Elaborate security arrangements had been made for the smooth conduct of Shobha Yatra by local Administration.
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