“THE Indian Constitution, which has pictures of Lord Ram and Goddess Sita on its pages, will play a crucial role in establishing Ram Rajya of Mahatma Gandhi’s dreams in the country,” said Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Fadnavis was speaking at the inauguration of the shobhayatra taken out from Shri Ram Adhyatma Mandir, Ram Nagar, on Sunday. Organised by Paschim Nagpur Nagrik Sangh, the shobhayatra was in its golden jubilee year.

 

 

Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways; Banwarilal Purohit, former Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh; Chandrashekhar Bawankule, State Revenue Minister, Amruta Fadnavis; Vikas Thakre, MLA; Ajay Sancheti, former MP, Sudhakar Kohle, ex-MLA; Prakash Gajbhiye, ex-MLC; Jaiprakash Gupta, Shyam Pattarkine, and Ravi Waghmare, President, Pascchim Nagpur Nagrik Sangh were prominently present for the programme.

 

 

 

Fadnavis further said, “Ram Rajya, in its true sense, means a system that has no place for discrimination among citizens, gives every person same rights and works in the best interests of the citizens.” The Chief Minister also appealed the citizens to draw inspiration from the life of Lord Ram. “Shri Ram defeated the evil forces by uniting common people and building a force. His life teaches us that everyone can defeat evil by awakening the inner Ram in them,” he said. Gadkari shed light on the history of the shobhayatra and said that for the first shobhayatra it was Govind Puranik who had taken special interest and lead in organising the first shobhayatra. The shobhayatra in Ram Nagar is one of the two highlights of the ‘Ram Navami’ celebrations in Nagpur city.

 

 

 

This year the Pashchhim Nagpur Nagrik Sangh organised its 50th shobhayatra, making it a historic occasion. This year’s shobhayatra featured 52 tableaus in the procession. There were tableau of Ganesh Tekadi Mandir, one depicting Mahakumbh Mela and of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj fighting a lion, among others. Devendra Fadnavis, Nitin Gadkari, and Chandrashekhar Bawankule felicitated Banwarilal Purohit during the programme. At the outset, Shivani Dani Vakhare, President of the shobhayatra, made the introductory remarks. Ravi Waghmare also addressed the gathering. Asawari Deshpande compered the programme. Nagpur Municipal Corporation had deployed 70 sanitary workers, 12 small vehicles and two garbage compactor for cleaning the roads after the shobhayatra.