This year’s Jhanda fair would be cherished for generations by the family of Mahendra Singh, belonging to Jalandhar district in Punjab, as the family was the proud donor of the prestigious Darshani Gilaf (outermost mast covering) this year. The offerings of gilafs (cloth coverings) are considered auspicious by the devotees visiting the Jhanda Fair.
The mast of the flag is covered with Sada (white), Sanil (flannel) and outermost Darshani Gilaf. The father of Mahendra Singh had booked to offer the Darshani Gilaf, 25 years ago. VK Nautiyal, coordinator of the Guru Ram Rai Darbar Sahib committee, told The Pioneer that bookings for prestigious Darshani Gilafs were made till 2103. The committee had set up a price tag of Rs12,000 on the Dharshani Gilaf and Rs9,000 on the Sanil Gilaf.
Nautiyal said the volunteers formed the backbone for managing huge crowds during the fair. The volunteers ensured that the lakhs of devotees converging in the city from all parts of the country and even foreign destinations had a hassle free stay during the fair. He further informed that the committee had set up scores of community kitchens where the devotees would have their food during their stay in Dehradun.
Nautiyal said 4 to 5 lakh devotees were expected to visit the fair on first two days. The volunteers were divided into different groups assigning different tasks like managing crowds, ensuring security, making arrangement of stay and helping the aged and ill devotees.
About hundred volunteers form the core group of the organizing committee and they are entrusted the task of managing the fair. This core group then chooses more volunteers for smooth functioning of the specific task assigned to them. The committee has set up 32 Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras and erected four metal detectors as part of its own security arrangements.