Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Oct 3: Dussehra marking the victory of good over evil was celebrated with full religious fervour and gaiety across the Jammu region today. The functions were organized at different places in the region where the effigies of demon King Ravan, his brother Kumbkaran and son Meghnath were torched.
The main function was organized at Parade Ground here this evening by the Sanatan Dharam Sabha, (SDS), Jammu and thousands of people watched the torching of effigies of demon King and his clan during the programme.
Prior to setting the effigies of demon King and his clan on fire, religious rituals as well as pooja was performed in traditional way by dharmacharis to the Lord Raghunath Ji whose Sawari was brought in a specially decorated chariot by the devotees from historical Raghunath temple to Parade Ground.
This was followed by jhankis from Dewana Mandir and Ram Sena. First the Lanka was set to flames which was followed by torching of the effigy of Meghnath the eldest son of Ravan and his brother Kumbkaran. In last demon King was set on fire. The effigies crumbled within seconds and turned into ashes. There was a deafening sound all around as the crackers inside the effigies bursted into flames forcing children and some spectators to keep their ears closed for a while.
Prior to torching of the effigies, the chariots and Sena of Lord Ram made rounds of Parade Ground with devotees paying obeisance to it. As the effigies were set on fire the slogans like Jai Sia Ram rent the air.
There was a huge rush of people in Parade Ground. Hundreds of people were watching the event from roof tops of Government and private buildings surrounding Parade Ground also.
The authorities had made elaborate security arrangements on the occasion and a big contingent of police and CRPF were deployed in and around Parade Ground the venue of celebrations.
BJP Legislative Party leader, Ashok Khajuria presided over the function while the Party president and MP Jugal Kishore Sharma was the chief guest. IGP Jammu Region, Rajesh Kumar, Deputy Commissioner Jammu, A K Sahu and BJP Spokesman and senior advocate Sunil Sethi were the special guests on the occasion.
In his welcome address president Sanatan Dharam Sabha, Jagdish Raj Dogra highlighted the significance of the Dussehra celebrations. He said the day reminds us that truth always triumphs and evil person meets the same fate as Ravan met though he was one of the powerful kings of his time who had even challenged the gods.
Jugal Kishore Sharma, while highlighting the significance of the day said that Dussehra like other parts of the country is celebrated in the State with full religious fervour and gaiety. He said let us take a pledge to remove the evils from the society to lay the foundations of a strong nation.
Ashok Khajuria also spoke on the occasion. Dr Jagpuran Dass who managed the stage highlighted the significance of celebrations of Dussehra in detail.
Reports coming from Kathua said that thousands of people witnessed the Dussehra celebrations at Ram Leela Groud in the town. The function was organized by Ram Leela Committee, Kathua. A complete traffic jam was witnessed in the town during the celebrations. The function was attended by Additional SP Kathua Yogesh Sharma and MLA Charanjit Singh besides other civil officers. The Dussehra was also celebrated at Hira Nagar, Ghagwal, Basohli, Bani, Billawar, Ram Kote and Dayala Chak with great enthusiasm.
Dussehra was celebrated in various towns of Samba district also. A grand function was held at Samba township in connection with celebrations of the Dussehra festival. Functions were also held at Vijaypur and Bari Brahmana in which a large number of people witnessed the torching of effigies of demon King and his clan.
Children of the town attired in colourful costumes took out a Jhanki from Laxmi Narayan temple Ward No 11 Vijaypur on the occasion.
Dussehra was also celebrated with traditional religious fervour at Subash Stadium Udhampur in which a large number of people took part.
Thousands of people watched the torching of effigies of Ravan, Kumbkaran and Meghnath during the celebrations of Dussehra festival at Bhadarwah today which was held at Seri Bazar in the town.
At Ramban the function was held at Ramleela Ground Maitra in which a large number of people witnessed the torching of the effigies of the demon King. Social worker and senior citizen Vishav Bandhu Sharma was the chief guest on the occasion.
A grand function was held at Parade Ground Reasi in connection with celebrations of Dussehra in which a large number of people drawn from different parts of the district participated. The function was organized by Durga Natak Mandli Reasi and Jhankis were taken out from Ram Leela Ground Reasi to Parade Ground where the effigies of Ravan, Kumbkaran and Meghnath were torched.
Dussehra was also celebrated with fervour and gaiety at R S Pura, Bishnah, Akhnoor, Ramnagar, Ramgarh, Chenani and other places of Jammu region today.
Reports coming from twin border districts of Rajouri and Poonch said that Dussehra was celebrated at Jhulla bridge Rajouri and DC and SSP Rajouri also participated in the function.
Another function was held at Jawahar Nagar and effigies of Ravan and his clan were torched. A controversy had surfaced over the venue of Dussehra celebrations in the area earlier but the authorities provided the alternative site for the same.
At Poonch the function was held at Sports Stadium while a Jhanki was taken from Hanuman Mandir Mendhar in connection with celebrations of Dussehra which after passing from different bazaars culminated at Hanuman Mandir where the effigies were torched. People form all walks of life besides the SDM, BMO Mendhar and other officers were also present.
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