Thousands of devotees have thronged to Dehradun to attend the famous Jhanda Mela scheduled for March 31 at Sri Guru Ram Rai Durbar premise here. More than five lakh devotees from various parts of the globe are likely to attend the event to offer their prayers. Keeping in view the huge inflow of devotees in the fair, the organisers have already completed preparations.
Interacting with the mediapersons, SGRR Durbar coordinator Vishnu Kumar Nautiyal said, “All arrangements including lodging and food for the devotees coming from different parts of the nation, Canada and USA, have already been made. We are expecting that more than five lakh devotees will attend the event.”
Organisers have laid special focus on security arrangements. A total of 24 CCTVs have been set up to closely monitor security arrangement.
Nautiyal said that they also sought cooperation from police and already informed the senior police officials about it. He said that last year adequate police force was deployed during the event for security.
He expressed delight over the enthusiasm among the devotees, arriving from different parts of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and other adjoining States. Though the event witnesses gathering of devotees from across the globe, the congregation comprises maximum number of devotees from Punjab and adjoining areas, including Saharanpur.
Dharamshalas and hotels have been booked for the devotees coming from abroad. While some of the devotees have made arrangements for accommodation on their own. Nautiyal said, “A religious event, the fair is a sort of confluence of faith in which devotees take a dip of faith and offer prayers. It also has its historical importance.”
He said that the activities related to the fair started on March 21 in Punjab. Since then various events related to Mela already took place.
Devotees from Uttarakhand and various districts of Uttar Pradesh would offer prayers at Durbar Sahib on Friday and Saturday to seek blessings. On March 31, when Mela is to be organised, several activities would be organised.
He said that the Jhanda would be lowered between 8 and 9 am. Devotees would offer curd, ghee and Ganga water to the flag and at around 10 am, procedure of putting the plain cover on the flag pole, commonly known as sada gilaf, will begin after which velvet covers will be draped on the pole. Moreover, the SGRR Durbar Mahant would extend blessings to the devotees who would offer flowers and garlands.
At the end, Darshani Gilaf would be offered by Narendra Singh, a devotee from Mohali, Punjab. During evening the Jhanda would be hoisted. Nautiyal said that the though the fair would officially conclude on April 2, it would be continued till April 20. He claimed that several thousands of devotees had already arrived to attend the event.