Nagpur: The fascinating moments that beckon the Orange City are 24 hours away. Nagpur City is set to go saffron as the much awaited event of the year — Grand Shobhayatras — to mark Ram Navami would be taken out on Thursday, March 30, with religious fervour.
With many hands giving finishing touches and lakhs thronging the streets, the Shobhayatras will be taken out from Poddareshwar Ram Mandir, Ramnagar Ram Mandir and other temples of the city. The oldest and the biggest Shobhayatra organised by Poddareshwar Ram Mandir is by far the most attractive and the most witnessed. The main attractions of the Shobhayatras being taken out by Poddareshwar Ram Mandir and Paschim Nagpur Nagrik Sangh are colourful chariots, tableaus and floats depicting various events of Ramayan.
The annual Shobhayatra is a keenly awaited event of the city as almost entire Nagpur converges on streets to witness the grand procession. Puneet Poddar, Trustee, Shree Poddareshwar Ram Mandir that organises the Shobhayatra said all preparations are almost complete and final touches are being provided to the royal chariot of Lord Shri Ram whose idol is taken out from the temple on that day.
Interacting with media persons at the temple on Tuesday, Poddar said nearly 82 floats are going to adorn the Shobhayatra. The floats depict various events from Ramayan and provide an insight into the cultural values of the nation. He said that Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Vilas Muttemwar, former MP, are going to be guests who will pay obeisance to idol of Lord Ram and flag off the chariot and shobhayatra from temple complex at 4 pm on March 30.
He said prior to the start of shobhayatra about 250 rallies converge at Poddareshwar Temple from various parts of the city. The entire 14 km route of Shobhayatra is decked up in various themes. This year, nearly 21,000 volunteers from 2,000 organisations are going to put up various shows. A cracker show will be held at Agyaram Devi Square as the traditional venue. To ensure safe passage for the Shobhayatra, the Kelibagh Road work was accelerated.
Poddar said modern trailers are going to be used as part of commitment to protection of the environment. The Shobhayatra is a unique event of the city where all communities come together and shoulder various responsibilities. The procession is also one of the finest symbols of social activism and collective action and organisations devote themselves to various tasks.
Paschim Nagpur Nagrik Sangh Shriram Mandir, Ramnagar, will take out a grand shobhayatra on the occasion of Ram Navami on March 30 at 5.30 pm from Ram Mandir, Ramnagar. Palki pujan will be done by Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit in the presence of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, former Member of Parliament Ajay Sancheti, former MLA Chandrashekar Bawankule and others. The yatra will commence from the mandir premises and pass through various areas of west Nagpur. This year’s attractions include tableau of ‘Bharat Mata’ by South Central Zone Cultural Centre (SCZCC), Lord Ram’s arrival at Ayodhya, Adasa Ganpati, Koradi Jagdamba Mata, Dhapewada Vitthal Rukhmini, Sehgaon’s Gajanan Maharaj, and tableaus from various schools.
A total of 31 attractive tableaus will be displayed during the shobha yatra. Horse riders, skating team and attractive rangoli will be part of the grand shobha yatra celebration. Various social organisations will distribute refreshments for the public along the shobha yatra route. Members of Paschim Nagpur Nagrik Sangh Shriram Mandir Ravi Waghmare, Rajiv Karole, Lokesh Ashtankar, Rahul Puranik, Aniruddh Palkar, Mukund Sarmukaddam, Vrushali Shiledar and others are working hard for the success of the programme.
Such is the significance of this event, predominantly organised in the central and south western parts of the city, that people from other religions participate with equal fervour.
