In Nurpur, ‘matki’ breaking marks start of 2-day fair

Nurpur, August 26

The two-day state-level Janmashtami fair was inaugurated at the historic Brijraj Swami temple in Nurpur this evening.

After leading a colourful shobha yatra, Kangra Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa, as the chief guest at the festivities, opened the fair and performed pooja at the temple.

The yatra was taken out from the Chogan ground to the Brijraj Swami temple. Donning colourful turbans, people marched in the procession with great enthusiasm. Members of different local temple committees also participated in the yatra.

Presiding over the inaugural ceremony of the fair, the Deputy Commissioner said such fairs and festivals were a testimony to our rich cultural heritage, communal harmony and social bonds.

He exhorted the devotees visiting the deity to maintain the sanctity of the temple and not litter the temple premises.

He said messages of loyalty, honesty and dedication were evident in the teachings of Lord Krishna.

A ‘matki’-breaking competition was also organised, with the winners of the competition being awarded by the chief guest. Local schoolchildren and artistes of the Language and Culture Department (Nurpur) presented a cultural programme. Before the opening of the fair, a ‘prabhat pheri’ was taken out by devotees in the town in the morning.

Thousands of devotees of Lord Krishna thronged the temple to pay their obeisance and long queues were seen throughout the day.

Police band ‘Harmony of Pine’ is set to perform on the inaugural night of the fair.