STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Dr Ritu Singh, Co-Founder of Maharaja Hari Singh Trust celebrated Makar Sankrati by paying gratitude to Surya Dev and performed a heart-warming and the first of its kind Mangaldeep Arti of Maa Tawi at Panjthirthi to mark the beginning of an initiative towards preserving, conserving and worshipping Maa Tawi and to thank nature for its abundant resources. A large number of people from all walks of life gathered at the banks of Tawi for paying salutations to Surya Dev amidst Shankh Naad, divine Vedic chants, audio-visual messages of blessings from Swami Chidanand Saraswati of Parmarth Niketan, Rishikesh and Mahamandaleshwar Swami Kailashanand, Vidhi Sharma, a famous classical singer from Jammu, lending divine energy to the occasion.
The event started with Gau Poojan as per the Hindu traditions, followed by salutations to the Sun God, invoking His blessings for all present. This was accompanied by an awe-inspiring Yoga Surya Namaskar presentation by the children from DPS Jammu and Alexander Memorial School. The students also chanted auspicious Surya Mantras along with the children from Sanskrit Vidyalaya, Birpur who recited Surya Stuti. The atmosphere was charged with the divine aura as the Mangal Arti dedicated to Maa Tawi was released. This Arti was sung by Seema Sehgal, a famous singer of Jammu. Seven priests from Chitrakoot, led by Acharya Shukla ji were brought into Jammu on this special occasion to perform the Arti which was done on the lines of Maa Ganga Arti performed at Rishikesh following full Vedic rites and rituals.
A beautiful Bhajan was performed on the occasion by the Teachers’ Choir of DPS Jammu and DPS Nagbani. Tawi Maa was also offered Bhog. Seen performing the Arti were the Committee Members Purushottam Dadhichi, Adv Purnima Sharma, Ajay Gandotra, Esther William, Baldev Khullar, Rajan Singh, Rahul Thakur, Mona Saraf, Pankaj Khajuria, Sandeep Kumar, Seema Murthy, Umesh Kumar, Swati Dadheechi, Manik Slathia and Neha Mahajan.
Special Guests on the occasion were Moksh Priya, who came in to pay her tributes from Haridwar and Rahul Thakur, Entrepreneur, Spiritual Coach and healer, other than the members of Yuva Rajput Sabha and the senior members of business and trade associations of Jammu, prominent citizens of Jammu, large number of women from rural Jammu, priests, media persons and citizens from Jammu, teachers and parents of DPS & Alexander Memorial School, local residents of Panjthirthi, Jammu and Katra who also joined the celebrations, creating History with their collective efforts to initiate the process of preserving, conserving and worshipping Maa Tawi.