Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Aug 25: Like other parts of the country, the festival of Janamashtami commemorating the birthday of Lord Krishna was celebrated with religious fervor and gaiety in entire Jammu region today with temples witnessing huge rush of devotees from early morning hours to mid night.
Taking out impressive Shoba yatras and holding of religious congregations marked the celebrations throughout region with thousands of devotees participating in these functions.
To maintain the age old tradition of breaking the curd filled pitcher (Dhahi Handi) ceremonies were also performed at various places especially in rural areas. The devotees were seen reciting bhajan Kirtan in praise of Lord Krishna.
All the temples were fully decorated and illuminated befitting the occasion. The main function was held in historical Raghunath temple Jammu where the rush of devotees continued from early in the morning till late midnight. The devotees including a large number of tourists also visited the holy temple to participate in the celebrations, offered special pooja and paid obeisance to Lord Krishna on the occasion.
The function was organised by Dharmarth Trust and the Trust office bearers besides the pujaris of the temple and religious scholars also participated in the function. Special mid night prayers were held in the temple by the devotees. After the culmination of function during midnight the devotees were served with prashad.
The birth of Lord Krishna was celebrated during midnight with ringing of conch shells and bells in the Lord Krishna temples. The devotees out of joy and utter devotion towards Lord also busted crackers on the occasion.
Besides the Raghunath Temple, the functions were held at Radha Krishan temples in various parts of Jammu including Gandhi Nagar, Old City, Shastri Nagar, Dharmal, Bohri etc and there was a bee line of devotees from early in the morning. The kite flying by the children was the main attraction of the festival today. At various places the little children dressed in colorful costumes and depicting as Radha and Krishna became the part of various Jhankis and functions in the temples.
During the functions, religious discourses and lectures on the philosophy of Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta were also given by scholars. Describing the Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta a sacred granth, the scholars said that it shows the path of Mukti.
To avert any untoward incident the authorities have made elaborate security arrangements on the occasion.
ISKCON Temple Dream City also celebrated the Janamashtami in a traditional way. Thousands of devotees thronged the temple complex since the morning and the rush continued upto midnight. The special pooja was performed in the temple complex and devotees were served prashad.
The school children also participated in the function and presented cultural programme on the life of Lord Krishna and his teachings with special emphasis on his teachings in Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta.
Janam Ashtami was also celebrated at Krishna Temple Basant Nagar, Janipur in which hundered of devotees participating. Speaker kavinder Gupta also paid obeisance at the temple.
Shiv Shakti mandir Sarv Dharm Welfare Trust Tirath Nagar, Tilab Tillo celebrated Janam Ashtami and organised Langer also.
Impressive Shoba Yatra was taken out at Bari Brahmana, where the Janamashtami was celebrated with full fervor and gaiety. Minister of Industries and Commerce Chander Parkash Ganga participated in the function among a large number of devotees.
On the occasion of Janamashtami, an impressive Shoba Yatra was taken out in Reasi town. The Shoba Yatra passed in the town in which thousands of devotees took part. The Shoba Yatra was organized by Sanatan Dharam Sabha (SDS) Reasi.
It started from Chowk Chabutra , Mandir, Sirkot and after covering about two kilometers distance, it culminated at Nai Basti , Reasi. The devotees were singing bhajans and reciting Vedic hymns enroute. The jhankis on fully decorated vehicles formed the part of Shoba Yatra which passed peacefully in the town.
The devotees of Lord Krishna were seen excited in breaking the “Dahi Handi” (curd-filled pitcher), which was the main attraction of the programme. The youth in scores broke the “Dahi Handi” to conclude the function.
Shri Krishna Janamashtami was celebrated in Kishtwar with zeal and religious fervor. On this occasion, Shoba Yatra was taken from Gori Shanker Mandir, Sarkoot to Raghunath Temple, Kishtwar which passed through Chowgan, Main Market and different streets of Kishtwar.
The devotees accompanying Shoba Yatra were chanting religious hymns and singing bhajans enroute. President Sanatan Dharma Sabha Prof Surinder Sen, Swami Ram Saran Dass Shastri , leaders of various political , social and religious organizations besides thousands of devotees accompanied Shobha Yatra.
Janamashtami was celebrated at Ramban with enthusiasm and great charm by Hindu devotees. On the occasion an impressive ‘Shoba Yatra’ was taken out which started from Raghunath Ji Temple Ramban and after passing through various markets culminated at Raghunath Temple. Before the Shobha Yatra, Pooja was performed by the devotees.
The Shoba yatra was given a tumultuous welcome by the members of Muslim Community as the prominent members of the community had gathered in the town to greet the Shoba Yatra to keep the traditional and age old brotherhood alive.
The Krishna Janamashtami was celebrated traditionally with religious fervor and enthusiasm in Bhaderwah town of District Doda also.
The ‘Jhanki’ of Lord Krishna was taken out from the famous Vasuki Nag Temple Ghatha in a fully decorated chariot by the devotees.
The Jhanki started with traditional Pooja Archana of Lord Krishna by religious scholars from the famous Temple.
Hundreds of devotees including prominent citizens and leaders of various political parties and social organisations participated in the procession (Jhanki) which passed through Udrana, Radio Station, Kotli, New Bus Stand, Seri Bazaar and culminated at Vidya Mandir School Jai Road Bhaderwah.
The people en-route showered flowers from the rooftops on the Jhanki and paid obeisance to Lord Krishna.
The devotees also danced to the drum beats and recited Bhajans and Kirtans in praise of Lord Krishna.
Similar Jhankis were taken out from Shankhoja, Mathola, Bheja, Manthla, Haliyan, Dalain, Thubba and Lagsaroo to celebrate auspicious occasion of Janmashtami.
Janamastami was celebrated with festivities in the town of R.S Pura. Special Puja was conducted in Shree Krishna temples. At the Devi-Dwara temple, Chohala, Gandli, Railway Line Patri and Shiv Nagar Temple puja and Tilakabhishek were performed. A colourful procession was taken out as part of the Shobha Yatra by the various religious organizations in the city in the afternoon. M L A R.S Pura, Dr.Gagan Bhagat was specially present to grace the occasion.
Janamashtami was celebrated in the towns of Vijaypur, Bishnah, Samba, Ghagwal, Hiranagar, Kathua, Basholi, Billawar, Bani, Sunderbani, Akhnoor, Nowshera, Rajouri and Kalakote also with great enthusiasm and religious fervor.
An impressive Shoba Yatra was taken out from Hanuman Mandir Mendhar today with idols of Lord Krishna and Radha on the occasion of Janamashtami at Mendhar
The Shoba Yatra started from Mandir after performing Pooja -Archana in a traditional way by Devender Kumar Tandon president Management Committee along with other prominent citizens of the area.
The Rath Yatra passed through main market & finally culminated at Hunman Mandir, Mendhar in which Sant Mahatmas, various Kirtan Mandlies, religious, social & traders organizations , Mahila Mandals and other prominent citizens participated.
The people and various Bazar Associations welcomed the Rath at various places en-route. The devotees gave a warm reception on the Yatra enroute and in large numbers the people had gathered on the rooftops to pay obeisance to Lord Krishna and have darshan.
Janamashtami was celebrated in a traditional way at Poonch town today and the function in this connection was organized by S D Sabha from Geeta Bhawan. D C SSP, MLA and local Brigade Commander also participated in the function besides thousands of devotees drawn from different parts of Poonch. There was a gathering of about 40,000 devotees drawn from different parts of Poonch district who participated in the function.
The Janamashtami was also celebrated at Lathi Udhampur where the Shoba yatra was taken out from Bandhhole temple Narsinghji Mandir to Dhana Bazar, Lathi Min bazaar and later to Sheetla Mata Mandir. Total 207 vehicles participated in the Shoba yatra. The police and CRPF had made proper security arrangements for the yatra.
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