Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 5: Amidst religious fervor and zeal, Kashmiri Pandits celebrated Janamashtami in Kashmir valley by taking out processions and holding special Pujas (prayers) at multiple places.
In Srinagar dozens of Kashmiri Pandits took out a religious procession to celebrate the birthday of Lord Krishna.
The procession began from Katleshwar Mandir at Zaindar Mohalla locality of Habba Kadal. Amid the chants of ‘Hari Krishna’, the devotees who were dressed in colourful attires marched through the streets of Old Srinagar and reached business hub Lal Chowk.
Depicted as Lord Krishna, three children were atop a decorated vehicle which was being followed by the devotees. At Lal Chowk, the devotees chanted slogans in praise of Lord Krishna while they also danced near historic clock tower, which is locally known as ‘Ghanta Ghar’.
The procession of Pandits became centre of attraction for commuters, pedestrians and shopkeepers. The members of majority community keenly watched the procession and many of them symbolically attended it.
The procession ended peacefully at the place where it began in Zaindar Mohalla. The police had made elaborate security arrangements for the devotees
The traditional Janamashtami procession came to halt for nearly 17 years after the outbreak of militancy in 1990. However in 2007, the procession was again taken for the first time after militancy with the cooperation of locals and assurance of administration and since then it is a regular feature.
To celebrate the birthday of Lord Krishna, large number of devotees thronged the temple of Shri Gadadhar Ji at Old Secretariat here. The celebration was organized by Jammu and Kashmir Dharmarth Trust Council.
Since early morning, the devotees visited the temple and had the blessings of Lord Krishna and Lord Gadadhar. Bajan Kirtan and distribution of ‘Prasad’ among the devotees was carried out throughout the day.
In north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, the Janamashtami was celebrated for the first time since the militancy began in valley in year 1990. The ‘Jhanki’ of Lord Krishna was taken out first time on the roads of Baramulla. The celebrations were organized by Kashmiri Pandit Association Veerwan in the district.
Meanwhile, the employees of Civil Secretariat organized an impressive function at Tulsibagh.
A large number of Secretariat employees, women folk, children and locals participated in the function. The devotees offered special prayers/Puja Archana and recited the discourses of Shri Bhagwat Gita.
A group of Bhajan Singers was specially invited from Jammu on this auspicious occasion, which enthralled the devotees with the Lord Krishna’s Bhajans. The devotees also threw light on the life and teachings of Lord Krishna and maintained that these are ever relevant in our day-to-day life and main source of development of mankind. The need of the hour was to adopt the teachings of Lord Krishna in true spirit for ensuring the lasting peace and prosperity in the universe, they maintained.
The organizers also distributed Prasad/fruits among the fasting devotees on the occasion.
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