Hanuman Jayanti celebrated in city

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 19

A large number of devotees took part in a religious procession that was carried out to celebrate ‘Hanuman Jayanti’ in the city on Friday. Revelling in religious fervour, the devotees could be seen dancing and reciting hymns.

Every year, cavalcades of devotees participate in the religious procession that starts from Bathinda city to reach Balaji Temple, situated in Goniana Mandi, at a distance of around 15 km from here. The temple has been drawing devotees from different areas of the state but from the past eight years, the number of devotees has increased manifolds.

Earlier, devotees from the district used to visit the Salasar Balaji Temple in Churu district of Rajasthan. Eight years ago, some devotees brought an idol of Balaji from Salasar and a temple was built in Goniana Mandi where the idol was established. Thereafter, it is a belief that devotees who cannot visit the Salasar temple can visit the temple here in Goniana Mandi to offer prayers.