large numbers of devotees from all parts of the country took blessings from Mahant Devendra Dass at the premises of Guru Ram Rai Darbar Sahib on Sunday. The famous Jhanda fair will commence on Monday.
Mahant Devendra Dass gave Guru Mantra to the group of followers (Sangats) on the day and advised them to follow the path of peace and love. Addressing the Sangats he exhorted them to follow the path shown by Guru Maharaj. He said that a person is able to feel heaven even while he is living if he truly follows the path of Guru Maharaj.
On Sunday, Sangats from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan arrived in the city. An atmosphere of joy and devotion is clearly visible in the premises of Darbar shahib where the devotees are swaying to the tunes of devotional songs. The devotes could be seen seeking blessings from the Guruji at the darbar sahib.
The coordinator of the Jhanda fair, V K Nautiyal said that more than 5 lakh devotees are expected to visit the fair this year. He said that the Guru Ram Rai trust has made all preparation for successful fair this year.
Nautiyal said that a team of doctors from Mahant Indiresh Hospital is deployed round the clock to respond to any case of emergency during the fair. The hospital has made arrangements for free distribution of medicines to the devotees. A fleet of ambulances of the hospital is also deployed to meet any exigency.
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. Guru Ram Rai was the eldest son of Shri Guru Har Rai, the seventh Guru of Sikhs.
Ram Rai performed some miracles in the court of Aurungzeb which infuriated the Sikhs and they expelled him from Sikhism; King of Garhwal Raja Fatheh Shah who was a friend of Mogul Emperor Aurungzeb provided a safe haven to Guru Ram Rai and allotted some land in Doon valley to him.
In the year 1676 Guru Ram arrived at Doon valley on his birth day on fifth day after Holi and set his camp (Dera) and the day is celebrated as Jhanda fair from then onwards.