Jamshedpur: Large processions mark Ramnavmi celebrations under tight security arrangements

Jamshedpur, April 11: Colourful processions marked Ramnavmi celebrations in the city on Monday under strict security arrangements. Devotees in large numbers participated in the celebrations with members of several Akhara committees displaying daredevil acts throughout the route.

The procession comprised band and sankirtan parties formed of devotees coming from other parts of district especially for the occasion. It was a fun-filled and colourful affair.

This year, 170 akhara committees participated in the procession and went through several areas before culminating on the banks of River Subernarekha. The procession followed the old route that consisted of 25 different paths.

All the licensed akharas committees took part in the immersion ceremony   which continued till late night carrying huge saffron and red flags on five major ghats namely Subernarekha (Sakchi), Kapali (Sonari), Sati (Kadma), Domuhani (Sonari) and Bhuiyandih (Sitaramdera- Sidhgora).

Jadhav Vijaya Narayan Rao ,DC East Singhbhum, SSP M Tamil Vanan, and SDO Sandeep Meena were active during the procession process.

Rathyatras or chariot processions of Ram, his wife Sita, brother Lakshman and devotee Hanuman began from various temples. Special havana were organised along with Vedic mantras.

Central peace committee secretary Lal Babu Singh admitted that this time the akhara committees were asked to restrict their members from displaying dangerous stunts.

Meanwhile, members of Sakchi Bal Mandir displayed stunts on two wheelers, while almost all the major akharas of Sakchi, Sonari and Kadma displayed stunts with traditional weapons and tubelights as devotees danced to the tune of drum beats.

Martial artistes from Manipur who had been requisitioned by Sonari-based Lalan akhara  displayed their prowess while other akharas committees gave opportunity for chhau dancers to showcase their skills.

Several philanthropic persons and social and religious organisations had opened stalls selling edibles. Gates and banners of welcome were made at several places. Young and old people enthusiastically recited keertan in the procession.

More than 3000 police forces comprising district police, paramilitary forces and units of Rapid Action Police were deployed at strategic locations while riot control vehicles were put on alert at the police control room in Sakchi.

All the important routes for the procession were barricaded with district traffic police enforcing ‘no-entry’ of heavy vehicles from morning. Plying of private and commercial vehicles also were prohibited after 2 pm on all major roads of the city.

 Ram Navami, celebrated on the ninth day of the Chaitra month, is considered to be an auspicious festival in the Hindu calendar. It marks the end of the spring festival of Chaitra Navratri or Vasanta Navratri and is believed to be the birthday of Lord Rama.

According to Hindu mythology, Rama is the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He was born in the royal family of Ayodhya.

 Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh), Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu), Bhadrachalam (Telangana) and Sitamarhi (Bihar), places that find mention in the Ramayana, usually celebrate Ram Navami with much fanfare.

 Legend has it that Dashratha, the king of Ayodhya, had three wives Kausalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra but no children of his own. Rishi Vasistha suggested that the king perform a yagna for an heir.

 After the yagna, the king was blessed with four sons. While Rama was born to Kausalya, Kaikeyi became the mother to Bharat, while Sumitra gave birth to two sons Laxman and Shatrughna.

 People recite verses from holy scriptures like Ramayana and Bhagavad Gita on Ram Navami. Devotees observe a fast on the day and head to temples dedicated to Lord Rama to pay their obeisance.