Jamshedpur, April 16: Colourful professions marked Ramnavami celebrations in the city on Friday. Devotees in large number participated in the celebrations with members of several Akhara committees displaying dare devil 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 much fun-filled and colourful affair.
This year, 157 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.
Rathyatras or chariot processions of Ram, his wife Sita, brother Lakshman and devotee Hanuman began from various temples. Special havans were organised along with Vedic mantras.
“We also have small idols of Rama in a cradle, symbolising the significance of the day, and pray to them,” said a member of Jugsalai Akhara Committee.
The committee members had tastefully decorated temples to match the occasion. People thronged these temples and shrines to pay obeisance to Lord Ram, Lakshman and Sita throughout the day.
Heavy rush of devotees was witnessed at the temples at Bistupur, Sakchi to participate in the procession.
Thousands of people standing on both sides of the road greeted the procession showering flowers. A lot of enthusiasm was witnessed among the devotees participating in the RathYatra.
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 persons enthusiastically recited keertan in the procession.
Meanwhile deploy adequate policemen and paramilitary personnel to prevent any untoward incident. Rapid Action Force and anti-riot vehicle were deployed accordingly.
Central peace committee secretary Lal Babu Singh admitted that this time the akhara committees were asked to restrict their members from displaying dangerous stunts.
More than 3000 police force 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.