Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 28: A religious procession of Sheetla Mata was taken out amid religious slogans and chanting of devotional songs from Raghunath Mandir here to the temple of Mata Sheetla near Dogra Hall, Secretariat Road.
Besides, the home State, the devotees from other States like Punjab, Haryana and South India thronged the religious procession in hundreds.
The devotees stunned the spectators by their daring feats like piercing the holy Trishools of Mata Sheetla through their cheeks, and thus showed their firm faith in Sheetla Mata.
About 500- 700 people participated in the procession, which concluded at the temple of Mata Sheetla near Dogra Hall. All the devotees then entered the 21 feet long holy Agni Kund and took the blessings of the deity.
A close aide of the president of the Sheetla Mata Temple Committee told that a religious function of breaking the earthen pot will be held tomorrow at temple premises and on July 31 the holy Kalash will be immersed in either river Tawi in Jammu or Chenab at Akhnoor.
This is a religious festival, which comes in the month of Sawan, he said, adding the festival is being celebrated in Jammu with full devotion for last 23 years. People have full faith in the Mata Sheetla and that is why notwithstanding the fact that it is basically a South Indian festival, people leaving behind regional and religious diversities are participating in the festival with full devotion, he said.
Earlier, on July 26, the Jagran of Mata Sheetla was organized at Dogra Hall and yesterday, a musical function was organized for the Mehndi of the Mata.
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