Simultaneously with the Punjab elections, the twenty fifth annual Lord Krishna Balram Jagannath Rath Yatra – an occasion that yearly witnesses the amalgamation of Ludhiana’s wealth and non secular fervor – noticed participation from political leaders and candidates from every get together on Sunday.
Political leaders and declared candidates of all main events participated within the Rath Yatra to woo the Hindu voters.
Every 12 months 1000’s of devotees from all communities, a majority of the Hindu group, take part within the Rath Yatra, which is organized by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). It is taken into account to be the second largest gathering of Lord Jagannath devotees within the nation after the historic Jagannath Yatra to Puri in Odisha.
CM Channi performing some rituals throughout Rath Yatra. (Photo: Gurmeet Singh)
Hundreds of group kitchens (langars) that serve prasad to devotees all through the day, together with promoting hoardings which might be put up by influential businessmen and political events of town to welcome the yatra because the chariot passes alongside the ocean from town. Devotees have turned the non secular occasion right into a advertising train for the residents of town. According to the organisers, the funding within the occasion runs into crores, largely from donations made by town’s industrialists and different devotees.
Akali Dal’s candidates for Punjab Election 2022- Maheshinder Singh Grewal and Preetpal Singh- at Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ludhiana. (Photo: Gurmeet Singh)
Even although Ludhiana has been organizing non secular occasions since 1996, through the years it has additionally turn out to be a platform for politicians to woo the Hindu group of Punjab, particularly throughout elections, with 1000’s of devotees collaborating within the yatra not solely from Ludhiana however throughout Punjab There are. ,
Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, who flagged off the Yatra on Sunday, introduced a ‘State Festival’ tag for the occasion from subsequent 12 months. He additionally introduced an quantity of Rs 2.50 crore for ISKCON temple in Ludhiana.
Flagging off the Rath Yatra, Channi, who was accompanied by cupboard ministers Bharat Bhushan Ashu, MLAs Kuldeep Singh Vaid, Surinder Davar and Sanjay Talwar, and different leaders of the Ludhiana Congress, stated “as a mark of respect to Lord Krishna”. In the type of ‘Rath Yatra’ might be celebrated yearly as ‘State Festival’ by the Government of Punjab.
Recalling his respect for the Bhagavad Gita, Channi stated that when he grew to become a municipal councilor about 25 years in the past, an incredible soul had suggested him to learn a verse from the holy Bhagavad Gita for internal peace. He stated that the holy guide gave path to his life and stated that the youth ought to imbibe the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and apply them of their lives. He stated that if one can imbibe just one shloka, it’s sufficient to achieve success in life.
Hoardings of Congress Party and Captain Amarinder Singh’s new get together Punjab Lok Congress to welcome Rath Yatra in Ludhiana. (Photo: Gurmeet Singh)
He additionally stated that the Punjab authorities is creating Shri Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana Research Center on 20 acres of land in Patiala. He stated that “religious texts are the greatest source of inspiration which guide us towards the betterment of our life”. “To advance our knowledge through the knowledge in the epic texts of Ramayana, Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita, a special research center is being set up in Patiala,” he stated.
Several leaders and candidates of different events together with AAP, SAD and BJP additionally participated within the procession.
With the SAD-BJP cut up, Punjab is witnessing an all-out contest this time.
SAD candidate from Ludhiana West Mahinder Singh Grewal and Ludhiana Central candidate Preetpal Singh (additionally chairman of Gurdwara Dukhnivaran Sahib Management Committee) joined the yatra.
District President Suresh Goel, candidates Kulwant Sidhu (Atam Nagar), Daljit Grewal (East) and Madan Lal Bagga (North) had been amongst those that attended AAP.
Thousands of devotees participated within the Rath Yatra. (Photo: Gurmeet Singh)BJP state common secretary Jeevan Gupta, Ludhiana district president Pushpinder Singhal, Bikram Singh Sidhu (who’s vying for BJP ticket from Ludhiana West) and different get together leaders had been current in this system on Sunday.
Even Captain Amarinder Singh’s new get together Punjab Lok Congress marked its presence by placing up hoardings throughout town to welcome the procession.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Satish Gupta of the Rath Yatra Mahotsav Samiti stated that CM Channi was allowed to handle from the stage, as he was the chief visitor of the occasion, which he had been following for years. “Irrespective of the get together, the CM is the chief visitor of the occasion yearly. His announcement of declaring our occasion as ‘Rajya Mahotsav’ will give an enormous enhance to communal concord within the state as not solely Hindus, however individuals from all communities turn out to be part of this competition yearly. It has been 25 years since ISKCON is organizing this Yatra in Ludhiana and it’s the second largest after Jagannath Yatra of Puri.
Gupta stated he sees “no politics” behind Channi’s announcement of the ‘state competition’ tag for the yatra. “Thousands of devotees be part of the yatra yearly. We didn’t enable Channi to talk from the stage not due to his political affiliations, however as a result of he’s the CM. Leaders of all different events joined the yatra however we didn’t give any VIP therapy to any get together chief.
This was not the primary time that the Rath Yatra of Ludhiana set the stage for the elections. Ahead of the 2017 Punjab elections, Delhi’s deputy CM Manish Sisodia of AAP participated within the yatra. He additionally carried out ‘Maha Aarti’ from the stage with get together candidates.
Political stalwarts like Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and five-time Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal have additionally participated within the Rath Yatra of Ludhiana prior to now years. In 2015, Khattar advised the stage that he’s “Tulsi Maa, the custodian of Gau (Cow) Maa and will continue to work for the promotion of Geeta across the world”.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
