POONCH: Religious festival of Hindu Dussehra was celebrated with the religious fervour in Poonch.
According to the report from our sources thousands of gymnosophists took part on the occasion. Although the situation is very critical in State, Poonch people once again showed the historical religious brotherhood of Poonch. Thousands of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs in this regard participated on the occasion and performed their traditional religious brotherhood. Deputy Chairman Legislative Council Jahangir Hussain Mir, Member Legislative Assembly Poonch Shah Mohammad Tantray, Members Legislative Council for Punchayat Raj Dr. Shenaz Ganai, Kurshid Rather, Pardeep Khanna Senior Citizen, former Member Legislative Assembly Poonch Ch. Bashir Ahmed Naz, Chairman JKIM Javid Iqbal Reshi, Sanathan Dharam Saba President Sateesh also took part.
BHADARWAH: Like other parts of the country, Dussehra festival-which marks the victory of good over evil, was celebrated with great enthusiasm, gaiety and religious fervour throughout Chenab Valley on Tuesday.
In a great example of brotherhood, the Dussehra also known as Vijayadashmi was celebrated with enthusiasm and gaiety by a sizable crowd of both communities (Hindus and Muslims) of Bhadarwah and effigy of Ravana, Kumbkaran and Meghnath were burnt.
A grand religious function was held at historical Seri Bazaar Bhadarwah, where large number of people watched the burning of sky high effigies of demon king Ravana, his brother Kumbhkarana and son Meghnath to mark the culmination of good prevailing upon evil.
On the occasion, a victory march (Shobha Yatra) was taken out in the Bazaars with tableau of Lord Rama in special chariot, depicting the scenes and characters from Ramayana, while a traditional ‘Rath Pooja’ was also performed to mark the return of Lord Rama after killing the demon king. Thereafter, the tall effigies of Ravana, Meghnath and Kumbhkarana were set on fire, amidst bursting of loud fire crackers.
MLC Naresh Kumar Gupta congratulated the people on this auspicious occasion and said that Dussehra symbolises the triumph of good over evil and one should take a pledge on this day to sink the evils and follow path of truth and service to mankind.
“The Dussehra festival is celebrated as a victory of good over evil to mark the death of Ravana and his army by Lord Rama with the support of Vanar Sena at Lanka,” Gupta added.
He cautioned the people from the nefarious designs of elements of destruction and said that they must work for peace, prosperity and development of the Valley of Bhadarwah.
While speaking Distt President BJP Advocate Manjeet Razdan said that good always prevails upon the evil.
He asked the people to follow the path shown by Lord Rama and take inspiration from his sacrifices and role in service to humanity.
Mast Nath Yogi Janta Dal(S) State President also joined the function which commenced with the chanting of slogans, symbolising arrival of Lord Rama’s Rath, signifying the victory of good over evil. Later, huge effigies of demon king and his relatives were set ablaze amid chanting of slogans in praise of Lord Rama. Meanwhile, RSS activists took out full dress march past on the eve of Dussehra which commenced from Bhartiya Vidya Mandir (BVM) School Jaie Road and after passing through Lakshmi Narayan Chowk, Link Road and New Bus Stand Kotli culminated back at BVM School, where Sr leader addressed the activists.
Tehsildar Bhadarwah, ASP Bhadarwah, CRPF Officers, political leaders , social leaders ,religious leaders and prominent citizens were also present on the occasion.
However, to thwart any untoward incident, elaborate security arrangements were made in and around Bhadarwah town.
“The jawans and officers have been advised to practice maximum restraint, we have deployed extra columns of police , JKAP and CRPF at all the places of Bhadarwah,” said SDPO Bhadarwah Sardar Sajjad Ahmed Khan.
At Kishtwar the main function was held at famous Parade Ground Kishtwar where officials of Distt administration and local public of the area participated in the celebrations in which the effigies of Ravan, Kumbkarna and Meghnath were consigned to flames marking victory of truth over evil. A colourful procession show casing the tranche of Holy Ramayana was started from Ram Leela Ground Kishtwar which was followed by large number of people and passed through the main bazaars of the town and finally culminated at the Parade Ground Kishtwar.
MoS Transport Sunil Sharma, Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Ghulam Nabi Balwan, SSP Kishtwar Sandeep Wazir, Madan Bhandari, Randeep Bhandari along with others members of Adarsh Dramatic Club Kishtwar, prominent citizen and social workers were present during the function.
Adequate arrangements of security, drinking water, and medicare facilities with deployment of Ambulance and Fire Brigade were made by the district administration at the venue.
At Ramban the effigies of Ravana, Kumbkaran and Meghnath was burnt at Sports Ground Ramban where DC Ramban, SSP Ramban and others were also present.
At Doda the effigies of Ravana, Kumbkaran and Meghnath were burnt at Sports Ground, Doda DDC Doda , SSP Doda and others were present on the occasion.
UDHAMPUR: Like every year this year too festival of Dussehra was celebrated in Udhampur at Subash Stadium. On this occasion artists of different Ram Kala Kendars took out Shoba Yatra which commenced from Chabutra Bazaar and after passing through main streets and Chowks of the town culminated at Subash Stadium. During Shoba Yatra number of tableaus of Rama Chander, Laxman, Sita Mata and many more were displayed where in devotees were reciting Bajan Kirtan.Deputy Commissioner Udhampur was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Marking victory over evil, Ram Chander and Hanuman set on fire the effigies of Ravna, Kumbkaran, Meghnath full of crackers amidst crowd. Dushera Committee had made sufficient arrangements for the pubic and the guests. On this occasion besides Deputy Commissioner Udhampur, DIG Udhampur-Reasi Range Surinder Gupta, local MLA Pawan Gupta, Govt. officials, Ex-MLA Balwant Singh Mankoita, NGO leader Vikram Singh Slathia, former BMU President Rama Nand Baria, Sham Lal Kalsotra former president AC and CU, President AC and CU Ravi Malguria, Vinod Gupta Secy and members of Dussehra Committee besides large number of prominent citizens were present.
RAJOURI: The festival of Dussehra was celebrated in district Rajouri with great excitement and gusto. Though the function of burning the effigies of Ravna and his associates was held at different places, the main function was held in the Rajouri town.
A Shobha Yatra was taken out in which Ramchander, Laxman and Hanuman burned the effigies of Ravna, Kumbhkaran and Meghnath. Thousands of people witnessed this scene of victory of Truth over the evil.
NOWSHERA: Similar function was held at Nowshera also in which the effigies of Ravna, Kumbhkaran and Meghnath were consigned to fire by the Shri Ram Chander Ji and his supporters to register victory of truth over evil. People from all walks of life witnessed the scene and raised the slogans in favour of Shri Ram Chander Ji.