Lucknow/Varanasi, Apr 2 (PTI) The streets of Uttar Pradesh came alive with vibrant celebrations as devotees thronged temples on Hanuman Jayanti on Thursday.
From the bustling city of Lucknow to the spiritually rich Varanasi, long queues of worshippers filled the Hanuman temples, participating in the festivities.
In Lucknow, long lines of worshippers formed at temples in Aliganj and at Hanuman Setu. In Varanasi, special prayers and rituals are being held throughout the city.
Vishwambhar Nath Mishra, the mahant of the renowned Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple, announced a 10-day festival at the temple.
To mark Chaitra Shukla Purnima, special adornments (shringar), processions (jhankis), aarti, and rituals dedicated to Lord Hanuman were performed.
The morning session included shehnai recitals, ‘Rudrabhishek’ performed by Brahmins, recitation of the Ramcharitmanas, Sita-Ram ‘sankirtan’, and readings from the Sundarkand, the mahant added.
Devotional singing will continue throughout the night at the temple premises, and a Ramayana conference is scheduled from April 3 to 5, where noted scholars from Kashi and other regions will deliver daily discourses at 5 pm, he said.
A massive ‘dhwaj yatra’ (flag procession) is being organised by devotees from the Bhikharipur area of the city. Ram Bali Maurya, president of Shri Hanumat Seva Samiti, said the procession is considered one of the largest in the Purvanchal region.
It will feature tableaux from seven states and around one lakh flags prepared for the event. Devotees, many of whom will walk barefoot, will carry the flags to the Sankat Mochan temple to offer them to Lord Hanuman, he added.
In Ayodhya, approximately 2 lakh devotees lined up for ‘darshan’ and worship, with queues stretching from the Ram temple to Hanumangarhi. To manage the massive crowd, the administration has implemented extensive security arrangements, including barricading at various points to ensure smooth and orderly darshan for the devotees. On the occasion of Hanuman Janmotsav, special rituals and worship were conducted from morning at the Ram Mandir premises. Vinay Katiyar, Jaibhan Singh Pawaiyya, along with several office-bearers of Bajrang Dal, participated in the rituals performed at the Ram temple.
Massive crowds were observed at all monasteries and temples in Ayodhya, where devotees waited for hours for their turn to have ‘darshan’ of Lord Hanuman. According to temple trust member Anil Mishra, a saffron flag was hoisted at the Hanuman temple within the Ram temple complex, with Vinay Katiyar present as the chief guest for the flag-hoisting ceremony. More than 50 Bajrang Dal workers of, along with over 50 saints and seers, participated in this event, which was witnessed by approximately 200 guests, Mishra said. A series of flag-hoisting ceremonies is underway at the temples located within the Ram Mandir complex. PTI CORR ABN MPL MPL
Category: Breaking News
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