City reverberates with chants of Jai Shri Ram
| Date :06-Aug-2020 |
Maintaining social distancing, citizens joined VHP members in celebrating the historic moment, at Gandhi Gate in Mahal on Wednesday.
Principal Correspondent :
Amid COVID-19 pandemic, Nagpurians celebrate the historic event of bhoomipujan of Shri Ram Mandir at Ayodhya
Ram temples and major junctions across city were illuminated and decorated to match the nation’s mood on the historic occasion
Adhering to the norms to contain COVID-19, citizens celebrated the occasion by lighting diyas, performing rituals indoors
There was not much crowd, there was not much thronging, there was not much fervour yet Nagpurians celebrated the historic moment of bhoomipujan of Shri Ram Mandir at Ayodhya in an ornamental manner. At a few places the celebrations included bursting of fire-crackers, distribution of sweets in a moderate way. Had there not been coronavirus pandemic, the city would have witnessed a grand celebration. But nobody has regrets.
The moment was important in all sense. Every single square in city barring a few was decorated with saffron flags, the corners had garlands all over, petals were scattered at the centre. Mayor Sandip Joshi performed pujan and aarti near the statue of Lal Bahadur Shastri at Laxmibhuvan square where an idol of Prabhu Ramchandra was installed.
A group of not more than 20 people gathered at the spot. A mob was restricted taking into account the social distancing norm against the backdrop of coronavirus outbreak. The occasion was not only celebrated by common man but also by MLAs of Nagpur including Sameer Meghe, Mohan Mate, Vikas Kumbhare, Krishna Khopde, Pravin Datke, Girish Vyas, Nago Ganar, Anil Sole, Tekchand Sawarkar. Joining the world in celebrating the occasion, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari chanted ‘Ramraksha’ with his family at his city home. Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stayed at the office of Bharatiya Janata Party, State Headquarters, Mumbai, listened to the speech of Prime Minister. He sung a song ‘Ek baar to Jaago Hindu Jaago Jaago’. Ajay Sancheti, former Rajya Sabha Member called it a historic moment that has started the re-establishment of Ramrajya.
“The bhoomipujan is the result of sacrifice, dedication, devotion of lakhs of Karsevaks. I pay respects to Prime Minister for this great work,” said Sancheti. Similarly, Pravin Datke, President of city unit of BJP and Arvind Gajbhiye of Nagpur District BJP led their respective units for the celebrations. The women members of BJP under Dr Kirtida Ajmera also joined the celebrations. Badkas chowk, Reshimbag Smruti Mandir, Sangh building, Mahal, Poddareshwar Ram Mandir and some other places were all illuminated since Tuesday evening. Zenda chowk, Medical Square, Laxmi Nagar square, Bidipeth, Tukadoji Putala, Trimurti Nagar square, Jaitala road, Shankar Nagar square, Ravi Nagar square, Sitabuldi, GPO square, Raja Rani square, Maharajbag, Dharampeth, Ramdaspeth, Dhantoli, Congress Nagar, Ajni, Ujwal Nagar, Wardha road, Somalwada, Jaiprakash Nagar, Khamla, Jaripatka, Byramji Town, Friends colony, Bajaj Nagar, Abhaynkar Nagar, Pratap Nagar, Swawlambi Nagar, Anant Nagar, Dinshaw factory, Subhedar Lay out, Ayodhya Nagar, Manewada, Narendra Nagar, Chhatrapati Nagar, Samarth Nagar, Atre layout, Ram Nagar, Gokulpeth, Hanuman Nagar, Reshimbag, Ganesh Nagar, Ramna Maruti Nagar, Wardhman Nagar, Pardi, Kalamna, Lakadganj, Bagadganj, Garoba Maidan, Nandanvan, Chitnavispura, Tulshibag, Naik Road, Dakshinamurty chowk, Kothi road, Golibar chowk, Pachpaoli, Timki, Jagnath Budhwari, Gandhibag, Itwari, Lakda pool, Ayachit Mandir, Sakkardara square and other junctions also were decorated to match the mood of the historic occasion. Police bandobast was in place all over the city to prevent any untoward incident during the celebrations. At all of the squares, temples especially those of Lord Shri Ram, the decoration began early Wednesday morning with youngsters doing all the ornamentation.
Several households celebrated the moment like a grand festival. People watched the auspicious event of bhoomipujan on their TV sets, the aartis were chanted after the bhoomipujan. Everybody listened to the speeches of leaders on TV including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The songs of Shriram were continuously ringing at squares, at temples, at homes. Though there was a humidity and people were sweating a lot, it did not deter the enthusiasm and zeal of common public. People from all strata joined the celebration of course by not crowding outside.
There was no mob but the atmosphere had the feeling of grand celebration at every corner of the city. From old citizens to little children, girls, boys, women, men everybody got so much involved as if they were waiting for this moment to take it into their embrace. The rituals like abhishek, ‘Harinam Sankirtan’, aarti were performed at temples including Shri Poddareshwar Ram Mandir, Ram Mandir of Ram Nagar, Ladikar Ram Mandir, Ram Mandir near Tilak Putla, Thadeshwar Ram Mandir, several Hanuman temples. During the celebrations and rituals all the norms of social distancing were followed scrupulously.