Thousands of devotees board special train going to Varanasi for Ravidas Jayanti celebrations

The city railway station turned into a sea of devotees on Sunday as around 3,000 residents boarded the Begumpura Express for going to Varanasi to celebrate Guru Ravidas Jayanti on February 12.

The special train, arranged for pilgrimage, saw an overwhelming response as followers of Guru Ravidas prepared to celebrate the revered saint’s birth anniversary at his birthplace.

Dera Sachkhand Ballan head Niranjan Das led the pilgrimage, drawing thousands of devotees to the station for his blessings. The event also saw the presence of political figures, including Congress Jalandhar MP Charanjit Singh Channi, Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh, BJP leaders Vijay Sampla and Avinash Chander and AAP Hoshiarpur MP Raj Kumar Chabbewal and others.

Before reaching the station, the dera head led a procession from the BSF Chowk, while seated in an open jeep. Devotees lined in streets as the procession made its way to the station, where large speakers played religious hymns. A kirtan was also performed at the station. Special langar (community kitchen) arrangements were made at various points for devotees.

Speaking to The Jalandhar Tribune, Seth Satpal Mal, a devotee and one of the organisers, said that the celebrations had already commenced in the city. The mela (fair) started on Sunday, with a grand “deepmala” scheduled to be held at Sri Guru Ravidas Dham. A shobha yatra is set to be held on February 11, leading up to the

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