Ati Maha Vishnu Yagna culminates with Purana-Ahuti

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 5 : While as the Vedic Mantra ‘Yaghyo Bay Vishnu-Yaghyo Bay Shraisthtam Karma’ rented the air and a chopper showering flower petals on the Yagyashalla, thousands of devotees participated in the Purana-Ahuti to mark conclusion of the eleven day long historical Ati Maha Vishnu Yagna, organised in the Tawi island.

Lakhs of devotees, irrespective of their caste, creed, colour, region or age, today attended final day of the Yagna as in the Hindu scriptures the Yagna is considered as a supreme sacred holistic ritual with Havan Samagri offered to the fire to propitiate God to seek protection from all ‘ills’ and to attain universal happiness as well as prosperity.

During these eleven day long religious congregation, lakhs of devotees in one way or other participated in various functions and made this Yagna a historical event in the religious history of the City of Temples.

Being final day today, large number of devotees were seen thronging Tawi island to participate in the Purana-Ahuti and people continued to flood the venue till late this evening to give Ahuties and to take Parikaramas.

Jai Jai Shree Radhey, Har Har Mahadev, Jai Shree Ram and Sita Sita Ram Bolo-Radhey Radhey Sham Bolo repeatedly rented the air as devotees were seen shouting religious slogans while taking Parikaramas. So heavy was the rush that about 30 feet wide Parikarama, which was widened today by uprooting tents to felicitate the devotees, was looking tight and devotees were seen finding it difficult to take Parikarama. They were virtually struggling with each other to find a way.

Virtually gripped with religious fervour some of the devotees were seen dancing while chanting religious slogans. Some Bhajans Mandals of city were also taking Parikaramas amidst singing Bhajans. Their instruments and rhythms of their Bhajans forced the on-lookers to join them and enjoyed Kirtans.

Thousands of devotees were seen standing with folded hands when Purohits, who were performing havans in the Yagyashalla, started performing Arti to mark conclusion of the Yagna. Everybody present in the Tawi island was seen singing Om Jai Jagdesh Harey- Swami Jai Jagdesh Harey.

As the deafening slogans Dharam Ke Jai Ho ! Adharam Ka Nash Ho! Vishwa Ka Kalyan Ho! Sanatan Dharam Ke Jai Ho and Har Har Mahadev rented in the air, a chopper emerged from the Northern side and started showering flower petals in the Tawi island where Yagna was held. Initially the chopper took Parikarama of the outer circle of the venue and threw flower petals. And then the chopper zeroed in on the Yagyashalla and showered petals of pink roses. For more than 20 minutes chopper remained flying over the venue of the Tawi Island and conducted seven Parikaramas. Apart from throwing flower petals over Yagyashalla, chopper also felicitated the devotees by showering flowers on them . There were flower petals spread all over the Yagna venue.

As the chopper showered flowers, devotees were seen responding with deafening slogans of Har Har Mahadev, Jai Jai Shree Radhey and Jai Shree Ram.

When the Purohits allowed the devotees to perform Purana-Ahuti thousands of people thronged the Yagyashalla. Keeping in view heavy rush of the devotees, organisers of the Yagna had made elaborate arrangements so that devotees could perform Purana-Ahuti smoothly. Some Purohits were also seen assisting the devotees in the Yagyashalla.

Apart from performing Parikaramas, devotees also participated in religious functions including recitation of Ramayana Paath, Shrimadh Bhagwat Path, Kirtan, Gyatri Mantra Jaap and Hanuman Chalisa.

Though the Yagna witnessed heavy rush today, functioning of Langer was seen going on smoothly. Large number of volunteers were performing ‘Sewa’ in the Langer to serve meal to the devotees.

Later, addressing the gathering after Purana-Ahuti, Balak Yogeshwar Maharaj- who is the main source behind this Yagna, congratulated people of Jammu region for successful completion of this Yagna. He said that religious people of Jammu, through this Yagna, have given a message to the entire country. He said that this Yagna will certainly help in launching Bhakti Movement not only in Jammu and Kashmir but also in other parts of the country. He said that it was all due to the blessing of Thakurjee (Lord Krishana) that Yagna was completed smoothly. He hoped that with the culmination of this Yagna peace will be restored in this region. Mahant Shri Ram Kishore Dass of Ayodhya also addressed the gathering.

Meanwhile chairman of the Ram Rajya Nar Narayan Sewa Asharam Trust, Suresh Sharma, has expressed gratitude, on behalf of the Trust, towards people of Jammu for making this Yagna as historical event in the history of the State. He thanked administration and other agencies including Police for providing help for this Yagna. He announced that Amrit Sanan will be held tomorrow at 10 am.

JU conducts interaction programme
No Pandit will return to Valley with begging
bowl: Agnishekhar

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 5: Situation is not yet conducive for the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley was the general view of the speakers at a interaction session held in the Department of political Science, Jammu University today.

The interaction session was organized by Prof. Rekha Choudhary. It was conducted by Prof. A N Sadhu, former HOD Economics Department and attended by various academicians, scholars and well known journalists.

In his introductory address Dr Agnishekhar dwelt at length on genesis of Kashmir crisis. He made it clear that Pandits are not averse to return but the conditions are not yet conducive for the same.

He said no member of displaced community will be ready to go back to Kashmir with a begging bowl and live at the mercy of the majority people there while rejecting the token return move.

He alleged the Government is making a double speak on the issue and it is not sincere on the rehabilitation of the minorities in their homes and hearths.

Dr Agnishekhar while commenting on the recent statement of JKLF leader Mohammed Yasin Malik said, his stand is same which was in 1990 and he has not changed it yet. So how the community will return Kashmir as our faith has shattered totally.

There are basic contradictions in Kashmir even the leader of rival Hurriyat group Syeed Ali Shah Geelani says that when you will talk about the return of Pandits you have to first rehabilitate those Muslims who migrated to Pakistan in 1947, he said. Another secessionist leader Sajjad Lone in Delhi had said that Pandits are welcome to return but they have to remain in low profile, he added.

He made it clear that Hurriyat is not the representative of Pandits who are the aborigines of Kashmir, he added.

Justifying his stand on Homeland for the Kashmiri Pandits within the Valley he said it is the only viable option as the Muslims have rejected the coexistence and Kashmiriyat which was propounded by Lalded, Nund Rishi, Abdul Ahad Zargar and Ghulam Mohammed Mehjoor. "We will live in that Kashmir which has a free flow of Indian Constitution , he added.

Juxtaposing the present Kashmir with Rishi cult that prevailed in the Valley, he said no patriotic Pandit will like to live in that Valley which glorifies the dreaded terrorist Mast Gul who set ablaze the famous shrine of Chrae-e Sharief. He regretted that Kashmiris today negated the Nund Rishi who was the icon of secularism.

Participating in the discussion, Prof Sati Sawhney said the return of Pandits is not possible to the present Kashmir. He however maintained that the carving out of Homeland and clusters for their rehabilitation is not also any solution.

He said the Pandits can return only when the same situation prevails there which existed over 30-40 years back. About 90 percent Pandits are not willing to return under prevailing circumstances, he added.

Prof. Virender Gupta said the exodus of Pandits was a preplanned move and it has not taken place for the first time in 1989 but silent migration continued since 1947. It is not only Pandits who were forced to flee but the Dogras of Jammu where not allowed to live in Kashmir, he added.

He, while justifying the Homeland demand of Panun Kashmir said it is the duty of every well meaning Indian to come to the help of this community and save it from extinction.

He said in view of the contradictory statements of Hurriyat leaders the Homeland demand of Pandits is genuine and justified.

Prof. Lalit Mangotra said the second generation of Kashmiri Pandits have other thoughts about Kashmir and most probably they will not be ready for their uprootment from here as they have no nostalgic attachment with Kashmir.

Prof. wanted to know under what circumstances the Kashmiri Pandits will return. Their migration is not sudden but there were pressures that forced the community to flee. He favoured a second alternative to Homeland should be found for the rehabilitation of the community.

However Prof. Balraj Puri was optimistic that Budshah (Sultan Zainulafdin), Nund Rishi, Abdul Ahad Zargar and Ghulam Mohammed Mehjoor will reborn and the pristine glory will return to Kashmir once again.

Stressing on continuing dialogue, he offered his assistance in convening the meetings of the two communities in this regard.

Prof. A N Sadhu said let us hope that the good old days will return to Kashmir. He said Kashmir today stands being used as capital asset by India and Pakistan and it is the duty of academicians to tell both the countries not to make it a milking cow.

Prof Rekha Choudhary while presenting the vote of thanks said such type of discussions will be also conducted in near future.

Poultry Co-operatives effective in tackling
unemployment: CM

Excelsior Correspondent

Srinagar, Nov 5 : Calling upon unemployed youth to form cooperative societies for poultry farming to earn handsome income, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said that Government has formulated a scheme to provide all possible assistance to such societies.

Addressing a joint meeting of poultry farm and poultry feed dealers, Chief Minister said that the State was importing poultry birds worth Rs. 750 crore annually as against 25 per cent consumption of poultry being met locally, saying that the sector could thus be profitably exploited by the youth who hanker after jobs. Chief Minister said that since co-operative movement was instrumental in bringing change in economic conditions of the masses therefore every body particularly unemployed youth should avail of the benefits under various schemes of cooperatives to make them stand on their own legs and also to become economically self-reliant. He said, poultry cooperative scheme was cost effective with fabulous dividends and the procedural formalities for formation and registration have been simplified.

Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Abdul Aziz Zargar who also was present informed the Chief Minister that 97 poultry cooperative societies have been registered since the launch of scheme for promotion and development of poultry in the State by the coalition Government.

He said that the cooperative department was provided with a target of organizing 10 poultry cooperatives each in Jammu, Srinagar and Ladakh, with the financial assistance from National Co-operative Development Corporation (NCDC).

He said that poultry Co-operative societies have also gathered under the banner of Kashmir Poultry cooperative Society, which has of now over 130 affiliates across the valley and with a capacity of supplying 2 lakh birds.

Commissioner Secretary, Cooperatives, B. R. Kundal on this occasion said that NCDC is providing 100 per cent of the proposed assistance to State Government for infrastructure development as loan and the State Government in turn is making the same available to the poultry cooperatives in the form of 50 per cent as loan, 20 per cent as subsidy and 25 per cent as share capital contribution to the borrowing cooperative. He said that the department has a procedure of sending a set of 30 proposals to NCDC for financial assistance.

He said that 4 existing cooperative societies at Hutmura, Sagam, Sopore and Narbal have taken up rearing of poultry birds after these societies remodeled their sheds to suit the purpose and the Hutmura and Sagam societies have already completed the first cycle of rearing of 4000 birds. The produce has already been sold with a profit of Rs. 50,000 by each of the societies.

Later, the Chief Minister distributed the cheques of profit of Rs. 50,000 each to owners of Hutumara and Sagam societies.

Niaz addresses public gathering at Kishtwar

Excelsior Correspondent

Kishtwar, Nov 5: Asserting that the Government has given major thrust to boost education, road connectivity and tapping hydro potential available in the state, the Minister for Power Development, Mohd. Sharief Niaz said that several measures have already been initiated to harness the huge potential of hydro electricity available here.

The Minister was addressing a gathering at Kishtwar yesterday. MoS for Tourism, G.A. Mir, MoS for Housing and Urban Development Abdul Majid Wani and MLA Inderwal, G.M. Saroori who is also chairman of Social Welfare Advisory Board were present on the occasion.

Mr. Sharief said that the Government has identified various projects on which work has already been started. He said two projects Pakar Dool and Busser in Kishtwar are mega projects and DFO Marwah has been asked to submit clearance certificates in this regard.

Mr. Wani reiterated the present coalition Government’s commitment to ameliorate the living standard of people particularly of ruralties with special inputs to provide them basic necessities of life like road infrastructures education, health care, drinking water, electricity and alike. He said that Government is fully aware of their problems and suitable measures are being initiated to mitigate their problems in a phased manner.

Mr. Mir said that tourism being a vital industry in the economic context of the state has been given major thrust since new coalition Government took over and effective measures have been taken for its revival.

MLA, Inderwal also addressed the gathering.

On the occasion 14 sewing machines were distributed among the beneficiaries under Social Welfare Scheme, besides 22 fishermen were provided with the Nylon Twin thread and Rs. seven thousand were distributed among militancy affected families.

The Ministers convened an officers meeting at Kishtwar today to review the pace of development works being executed there. They stressed upon the officers to work with dedication and zeal.

Polytechnic students call off agitation

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Nov 5: Polytechnic Students today called off their fortnight long agitating as the J&K Technical Board agreed to allow all the students to appear in next higher class.

According to a spokesman of the All Polytechnic Students Association, which was spearheading the agitation, Chairman of the Technical Board agreed for one time carry-on system during his meeting with the Polytechnic students’ representatives.

The Chairman also assured to consider other demands of Polytechnic students such as weightage wise syllabus and fair evaluation of the answer scripts following which the APSA has called off the agitation, he added.

Day-long conference of DDCs
CS reviews development works in Jammu

Excelsior Correspondent

Jammu, Nov 5: Chief Secretary, Dr Sudhir S. Bloeria today reviewed the pace of progress on various development works in Jammu at a daylong conference of District Development Commissioners of the division.

The matters pertaining to law and order situation, general administration and revenue were discussed in the meeting. All the development projects funded by Government of India which included railways, four laning of national highway and land acquisition cases were also reviewed.

The Chief Secretary while addressing the DDCs emphasized upon regular and close monitoring of various development project in the districts. He also stressed on regular tours and inspection of various subordinate offices in the district.

The Divisional Commissioner, Lokesh Jha who chaired the conference apprised the Chief Secretary about the status of development of various works and assured expeditious achievements of both physical and financial targets so that the benefits of various projects percolate down to the people at the earliest.

Culture Corner
National translation workshop
Opening Dogri literature to wider readership

By O P Sharma

First-ever four-day national workshop on translation of Dogri Short stories into English is commencing on November 24 at Jammu University campus here.

Being organised by the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi in collaboration with the Department of Dogri, University of Jammu, it is proposed to undertake translation of 17 short stories by eminent Dogri writers into English language by noted expert translators and resource persons well versed in both Dogri and English language.

The eminent short story writers whose selected famous work will be translated into English include: Sahitya Akademi awardees Prof Ram Nath Shastri, Ved Rahi, Madan Mohan Sharma, ND Jamwal, Narendra Khajuria, Badhu Sharma as also noted writers Om Goswami, Bhagwat Prasad Sathe. Chaatarpal, Prof Lalit Magotra, Chaman Arora. Dr Manoj Sharma, Krishna Sharma, Tara Dhanpuri, Nirmal Vikram, Sudesh Raj, Krishna Prem.

Prof Veena Gupta, Head, Department of Dogri, who is Director of the workshop being held on November 24-27, told EXCELSIOR that this workshop on translation of Dogri Short stories in English is first kind, will open up Dogri works to much wider readership.

She stated that it is envisaged to release some Dogri books, Dogri research journal as also proceedings of environmental seminar held during mid-June this year.

Col Shivnath and some other noted Dogri writers are expected to participate in the workshop.

The Sahitya Akademi is organising this workshop to give boost to the Dogri literature by opening it up for more readership. The translated short stories in Dogri will gain popularity as translated version will be available across the country.

According to programme drawn up by the Sahitya Akademi, it is proposed to have a inaugural function at the Brig Rajinder Singh Memorial auditorium, Jammu University campus on November 24 and it will be followed by detailed deliberations in groups for translation work from morning till evening.

In reply to a question, she stated that endeavours will be made to make the sessions "result-oriented to produce standardised translation work ".

The translation work has been assigned to noted writers who shall undertake their job with resource persons, mostly drawn from University and other spheres, for accurate, creative and excellent end-product of translation work. The translation in itself a fine art which keeps the spirit, flavour and essence of original manscript to one in the English language.

The Sahitya Akademi had conducted a workshop on October 22-25 last year in which Dogri poetry of 25 eminent poets was rendered into verses in English. That workshop was very productive and useful as it provided unique window of opportunity of wider readership to Dogri poets.

It is noteworthy that the Dogri language’s important works have been translated into English language. Few of these include: "Echos and Shadows" a collection of Dogri short stories into English by Shivnath and published by Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi.

Besides, Padma Sachdeva’s poetry has been rendered into Enlish in "A Handful of Sun" by Dr Karan Singh as also OP Sharma Sarthi’s Dogri novel Nanga Rukh into English entitled " Churning of the City".

"The Indian Literature", quarterly put out by Sahitya Akademi do carry translation of Dogri prose and poetry writing from time to time.

For popularing Dogri literature more and more of its famous works have to be made available in English as well as other Indian languages. Only of bit has been done and much more remains to be done in this sphere. Dogri works, prose and poetry, have been translated into various languges like Bengali, Kannard, Malyalam. Nepali, Mathari as also Hindi and Urdu.

Similarly, classic works like Ramayana, Bhagwat Geeta have been translated into Dogri. These translation work have been done, among others, by Dr Lakshmi Narayan, Ramnath Shastri, Thankur Raghunath Singh Samyal, Gouri Shankar; Sham Lal Dogra in Kangri.

The efforts of Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi are laudable but sustained endeavours have to put in by the Academy of Art, Culture and Languages as also the writers in Jammu and Kashmir and the Dogra community at large have a challenging task ahead of them to enrich and popularise the Dogri.

****

A Film Festival of Dogri films produced by Ved Rahi is scheduled to be held at Brig Rajinder Singh Memorial Auditorium, Jammu University campus on Sunday, November 9. Four Dogri films by Mr Rahi are to be exhibited in it.

This is being organised by Mr Rahi and the Department of Dogri, JU is collaborating in this first such event. Films is a powerful medium and the Dogri language will get a much needed boost through it.

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