March 31, 2014

Thousands of devotees Monday visited famous shrine of jawalamukhi

Vijyender Sharma
DHARMSHALA--------Thousands of devotees Monday visited famous shrine of jawalamukhi  to mark the onset of the nine-day long Chaitra Navratri festival, the holy period for the Hindus.Navratra Mela today begins with traditional enthusiasm and religious fervor at the famous Hindu shrine of Jawalamukhi in Kangra district of Himachal Pardesh.  “We are expecting over Fifty thousand devotees  every day at the Jawalamukhi shrine,” temple official Devi Ram told . One of the busiest shrines in north India, the Jawalamukhi temple in Kangra district sees a majority of pilgrims from Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. All arrangements have been completed by the authority to ensure smooth celebration of MELA. The Jawalamukhi Temple Trust authorities are making arrangements for over five lakh pilgrims, who are expected to arrive here from PUNJAB, CHANDIGARH, HARYANA, UTTAR PRADESH AND RAJASTHAN to pay obeisance to the Goddess during the MELA.

According to the Deputy Commissioner of Kangra District Mr. C Pal Rasu , elaborate security arrangement had been made to maintain law and order during the MELA.  Special police force and home guards would be put on duty to check theft and Pick-pocketing. He said an Executive Magistrate is appointed for Mela on Duty round the clock.  The administration also banned the carrying of all types of fire arms ammunition and lethal weapons inside the Territory of JawalaMukhi Nagar Panchayat of the district with immediate effect.The D.C. said, to maintain sanitation during the MELA the entire area of the town divide into sectors.  Besides the regular sanitation staff 50 Safai Sewaks would be recruited for this work.  The Medical facilities were also provided by the authority round clock, said D.C. Kangra.
Direct buses would be piled between Jawalamukhi, Chandigarh & Hoshiarpur. Mr Rasu who is holding the charge of Temple Commissioner also, said in addition the state public relations department will set up a reception room, information centre to provide regular information of the MELA to devotees.  The Health Department has been asked to ensure potable water for the Pilgrim.  Meanwhile Police Chief of Kangra Balbeer Thakur, while talking to reporters, said that bomb disposal squads had been deputed at all three main temples in the district in view of terrorist threat perception. The three temples include Jawalamukhi temple, Barjeshwari Devi temple in Kangra and Chamunda temple.He further disclosed that 681 police personnel, including three gazetted officers, 40 non-gazetted officers, 66 head constables, 252 constables, had been appointed for the purpose. An appeal has also been issued to visiting pilgrims to keep a vigil and inform the police in case anything suspicious comes to their notice, the SP said.
Similar fairs would be held at Barjshwari Devi Temple Kangra & Chamunda in this district.

Likewise, a huge rush was seen at the popular shrine of Chintpurni in Una, Baba Balak Nath in Hamirpur, Naina Devi temple in Bilaspur and Barjeshwari devi , Chamunda Devi in Kangra, and Bhimakali and Hateshwari in Shimla district. The festival will conclude with Ram Navami April 8. The ban on offering coconuts as a precaution against terrorist attacks would remain in force at all the temples, a senior police officer said. Himachal Pradesh is known as ‘land of gods’. It has 28 prominent temples, most of which are in Kangra, Una and Bilaspur districts.



--
**VijyenderSharma*, Press Correspondent Bohan Dehra Road  JAWALAMUKHI-176031, Kangra HP(INDIA)*
 
Contact Number is  09736276343Mobile





No comments: