Markets, roads chock-a-block with devotees on Guru Ravidas Jayanti in Jalandhar

Jalandhar, February 5

After a massive shobha yatra to mark the 646th Parkash Purab of Shri Guru Ravidas was taken out across the city on Saturday, the Nakodar Road and the Buta Mandi area remained closed for a second day today to mark the the Guru’s birth anniversary.

Hundreds of devotees flocked the yatra route yesterday as the tableaux moved at a snail’s pace all day to mark the birth anniversary of the Guru. While the stretch remained closed until the wee hours, barricades stay put for a second day today as devotees paid obeisance at the Guru Ravidass Dham at Buta Mandi and celebrated at the fair being held to mark the occasion.

Nakodar Road and Buta Mandi stretches were abuzz with visitors who thronged scores of vends and kiosks on either side, swings and rides. Kirtan Darbars and congregations were also held at various places on these two days and will continue until Monday. Barricades cordning off the key Buta Mandi stretch from the rest of the city remained on the roads today.

Barricades across the Nakodar Road, Buta Mandi, Ravidass Chowk and Nakodar Chowk areas prohibited the entry of vehciles across these stretches. Diversions were created through the Basti areas, PAP Chowk, Katarpur Road, Mithapur Road, Cool Road among other areas. As the rush of the heavily attended shobha yatra and repeated bottlenecks caused traffic snarl-ups, especially during the rush hour traffic in these areas, the stretches were relatively peaceful today.

On Saturday, a large procession had started from rural areas and congregated at the Guru Ravidass Dham at Buta Mandi in the morning, from where the yatra headed to the Shri Guru Ravidass Chowk, Dr. BR Ambedkar Chowk (also called the Nakodar Chowk), Bhagwan Valmiki Chowk, Shri Ram Chowk, Nehru Garden Chowk, Luv Kush Chowk, Phagwara Gate, Bhagat Singh Chowk, Mai Heeran Chowk, Patel Chowk, then came back to Ambedkar Chowk and to the Shri Guru Ravidass Dham from where the yatra started.

While Covid had cast its shadow on all things for the past two years, the fervour of the yatra was heightened this year as devotees came from far and wide to pay obeisance at the Shri Guru Ravidas Dham on the occasion.

Meanwhile, Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh along with Kartarpur MLA Balkar Singh paid obeisance at Dera Sachkhand Ballan on the occasion of 646th Prakash Purb of Guru Ravidas.

Meanwhile, Member of Lok Sabha from Sri Anandpur Sahib and former Union Minister Manish Tiwari said that the teachings of Sri Guru Ravidas inspire us to strengthen mutual brotherhood and work for the welfare of humanity. Tiwari had reached Sri Khuralgarh Sahib to pay obeisance on the 646th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Ravidas.

Addressing the event organised on the occasion, MP Tiwari said the teachings of Sri Guru Ravidas have more importance in today’s time and inspire to work for the welfare of humanity by maintaining mutual brotherhood.

Among those present on the occasion were advocate Pankaj Kripal,

PPCC member Pranav Kripal, spokesman of Punjab Youth Congress Dr Kewal Singh, president of managing committee Dr Kulwaran Singh Chairman, Chaudhary Jeet Ram, Makhan Singh, Kishan Gopal Nayyar and Rohit Kumar.

(With inputs from Hoshiarpur)