Dainik Nation News Portal
DAINIK NATION BUREAU
With raising of the holy flag at historic Darbar Sahib, the famous Jhanda Mela started on Friday. The 15 day long fair is celebrated to commemorate the auspicious occasion of the birthday and arrival of Guru Ram Rai in Doon valley in the year 1676. The huge mast of the flag was hoisted amid chanting of bhajans by a sea of followers.
The entire premises of the Darbar Sahib and neighboring areas were thronged with devotees fromFriday morning. A big rush of the devotees was witnessed at the historic pond located at the Darbar Sahib premises as a bath in the pond is considered auspicious.
The holy flag mast was lowered in the morning and old cloth coverings were removed, the mast was then washed with honey, milk, water of river Ganga and curd. The devotees then covered the mast by 40 Sada Gilafs (white cloth coverings) and twenty Sanil Gilafs. The devotees carried these pious cloths on their heads which were wrapped on the mast. The Darshani Gilaf (the outer most cloth covering) was then wrapped on the mast and the flag was hoisted amid cheers and beating of drums by the devotees.
The faces of the devotees were lit when an eagle circled the sky over Darbar Sahib. The devotees consider sighting of eagle as an auspicious sign on the occasion of Jhanda Fair as they believe it as a blessing by the Guru Maharaj (Guru Ram Rai). The old wrappings of the mast were then shredded and distributed among the devotees as Prasad.
Mahant Devendra Dass congratulated the people and blessed the devotees on the occasion. Addressing the devotees he said that Shri Jhande ji fair spreads the message of love, harmony, mutual brotherhood, compassion and peace. He said that whoever bows at Shri Jhande ji (the holy flag pole) his/ her wishes get fulfilled, that is why, the faith of the devotees is on a constant rise year after year. In his message, Mahant Dass wished that the divine blessings of Shri Guru Ram Rai ji Maharaj would always remain showered over the people of India and Uttarakhand.
The district administration had made elaborate security arrangement for smooth conduction of the Fair. The volunteers of the Guru Ram Rai Darbar Sahab Committee were seen coordinating with the local policemen in managing the huge surge of devotees. Elaborate security arrangements were made on the occasion with authorities using the services of Drone for the first time. The district administration had declared a holiday on the occasion of Jhanda Fair on the day.
For the benefit of the devotees the Fair administration had made arrangements of a projector to do live telecast of raising of the holy flag.
The Senior PRO of Darbar Sahib, Bhupendra Raturi said that devotees have reached from all over the world to participate in Shri Jhande ji raising and fair. “The devotees have come from Uttar Pradesh (UP), Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh as well as from foreign countries to witness this holy occasion,’’ he said.
