Devotees from different parts of the country as also from abroad are arriving in Dehradun in their hordes to participate in Jhanda Mela, slated to begin at SGRR Darbar premises from Monday. The sacred flag will be hoisted around 5 pm at Guru Ram Rai Durbar on Monday to herald the 340-year-old mela. It marks the birth anniversary of Guru Ram Rai.
A month-long Jhanda Mela, being observed annually five days after Holi, represents a consequential thread in Doon’s foundational fiber, as it is from Guru Ram Rai’s camping or dera here in 1676 that the city got its name. As the day of the historic flag hoisting at the Jhanda Sahib Shri Guru Ram Rai Darbar is drawing nearer State has morphed into an overwhelming wave of heterogeneous devotees unified by a common faith. Amidst enthusiasm and activity charging the precincts of Guru Ram Rai Darbar, sacred observances will commence around 8 am with the dismounting of the venerated flag mast. led by Mahant Devendra Das of the Darbar, hundreds of believers would join hands in lowering the pole. The celebrations then will be followed by holding of elaborate ritualistic prayers in the Darbar.
The multitude of flag mast covers hand-created by the pilgrims will be consecrated using milk, flowers, curd, holy water, chants and incense. As an increasing number of people swarm the Darbar, socioeconomic disparities disappear, giving way to a striking display of communal unity. There are three types of covers (called Gilaaf vernacularly)- the plain, the velvet ones and the main outermost cover known as the Darshani Gilaaf.
The devotees have begun sewing white cotton, satin and darshani cloth, which is offered at the Darbar Sahib. The clothes are used to cover the mast on which the flag is hoisted. Dehradun SSP Dr Sadanand Date said that as lakhs of pilgrims are expected to participate in Jhanda Mela, elaborate security arrangements have been made and additional police forces will be deployed in the Mela area.