Sanjeev K Sharma
JAMMU, Apr 10: The nine days of Navratras culminated today with the celebration of Ramnavmi festival.
With this, the Navratra fasting by the devotees came to an end after the devotees performed the ritual of ‘Kanjak Pujan’ and ‘Saakh immersion’.
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‘Kanjak Pujan’ is a ritual involving worshipping of little girls and offering them eatables and other things while ‘Saakh immersion’ includes immersion of germinated barley seeds in the water of river Tawi or other river in Jammu.
The Ramnavmi celebrations were full-fledged today with festivities back again as the same remained absent in the last two years due to lockdown triggered by the deadly COVID-19 pandemic which claimed many lives worldwide.
Temples in J&K especially the Bawe Wali Mata temple at Bahu Fort, Kol Kandoli temple in Nagrota, Deva Mai temple near Katra, world revered cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi, Jastora Mata temple at Rajbagh near Kathua, Chichi Mata temple in Samba and temples of Goddesses in many other parts of J&K organized special prayers and rituals for the world peace.
There were Bhandaras at many temples and along road sides in Jammu, Samba, Udhampur etc arranged by different organizations.
Adequate security arrangement was put in place to prevent any untoward incident on this occasion and group of cops were seen positioned at many places in Jammu city.
Apart from this, Dharmarth Trust J&K (DTJK) organized a grandiose Shobha Yatra which started from historical Shri Raghunath Ji Temple and was joined by many devotees and the religious procession also included impressive tableaus.
The Shobha Yatra was flagged off by the chief guest, Dr. Raghav Langer, Divisional Commissioner Jammu along with DTJK Trustee, Ajatshatru Singh in the presence of Ajay Gandotra, president DTJK; Dr. Gopal Parthasarthi Sharma, Secretary and Varinder Jamwal, Additional Secretary.
Sanatan Dharm Sabha and Dharmik Youvak Mandal collaborated in organizing the Shobha Yatra which after passing through Residency Road, Rajinder Bazaar, Kanak Mandi, City Chowk, Purani Mandi, Link Road, Jain Bazaar, Chowk Chabutra, Pacca Danga, Moti Bazaar, Raj Tilak Road and Raghunath Bazaar culminated at Shri Raghunath Ji Temple.
Earlier, Ajatshatru Singh along with Dr Langer and Trust officials presided over Murti Poojan ceremony at Shri Raghunath Ji Temple which was followed by Rath Poojan and Dhwajarohan ceremonies.
Members of Muslim community also welcomed the religious procession en-route.
Speaking on the occasion, Ajatshatru Singh said that celebration of festivals, which are an important part of our glorious heritage, strengthens communal harmony and brotherhood and reinvigorates the secular ethos.
Purnima Sharma, JMC Dy Mayor; Parshotam Dadechhi from Sanatan Dharm Sabha; Anil Sharma, president Dharmik Youvak Mandal; Pt Shiv Raina, chairman Member of Advisory Committee and several other prominent persons participated in the Sobha Yatra.
Meanwhile, Shri Lakshmi Narayan Mandir Management Trust Gandhi Nagar organized special Pooja and Hawan to celebrate Ram Navmi.
Kavinder Gupta, former Dy. CM and Ashok Aima, former Vice Chancellor of Central University of Jammu participated in the function as special guests.
Among prominent devotees who participated in the celebrations were Th. Gulchain Singh Charak, former Minister and president of the Trust; S.C Rekhi, general secretary; Prithvi Raj Vaid, Prem Sharma, Harish Malhotra, Kapil Slathia, Pt. Ashwani Kumar, Pt. Manoj Kumar, Pt. Surinder Kumar, Pt. Sham Lal, Ajay Sharma, Parshant Sharma and Tarun Gupta.
Reports of Ramnavmi celebrations from other districts of Jammu province and also from Kashmir were received.
In Kathua, Ramnavmi was celebrated with religious fervour and the religious procession was taken out by Ram Lila Club Kathua. DDC Vice Chairman, Raghunandan Singh was chief guest while in Kishtwar Ram Navmi Jhanki was taken out from Gouri Shanker Mandir Sarkoot which culminated at Ram Mandir after passing through Chowgan, Shaheedi Road and bus stand road. DC Ashok Sharma along with former Minister Sunil Sharma and others joined the religious procession.
Meanwhile, in Poonch district, over century old utensils, jewellery and idols of Mata Durga used by Maharani of Jagat Dev Singh, the last king of Poonch were displayed for the general public to have a glimpse on Ramnavmi.
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