PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
The number of devotees anticipated to attend this year’s Jhanda Mela is expected to range between five lakh and 10 lakh, reflecting a growing faith among them over the years, the chief manager at the Jhanda Mela Committee, Madhusudan Semwal, said.
The historic Jhanda Mela in Dehradun is set to begin on March 19 and will conclude on Ram Navami, which falls on April 5. Semwal further said that the committee is well-prepared to successfully organise this annual event. He said that preparations have been thoroughly completed, with the arrival of devotees beginning on March 12. To accommodate them, the committee has made arrangements for their lodging, including the establishment of four new Sangat Bhawans for safe and comfortable stays this year. Additionally, three schools in the area, along with various Dharamshalas throughout the city, have been reserved for the devotees’ use.
The accommodations mentioned will be provided at no charge; no fees have been or will be collected for them. Additionally, he said that medical camps for the devotees will operate from March 17 to March 22, with doctors and nurses from Mahant Indiresh Hospital assigned to these camps.
Semwal also added that this year, the flagpole, referred to as Jhandi Ji, will be changed, as according to the tradition it gets changed every three years. He said that it was acquired from Duddli Forest in November 2024 with the necessary permissions from the authorities. The new Jhandi Ji is expected to be between 78 and 80 feet tall with a diameter of 32 inches. Further, two individuals have been chosen to adorn the Jhanda Ji with a Darshani Gilaf, marking the first selection of drapers after 100 years. He added that devotees from all over the country, particularly from Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana, as well as NRIs from Canada and other nations, are anticipated to attend the commencement of the Jhanda Mela.
Semwal said that a total of 123 shops will be set up at this year’s mela. In addition, the police administration has been contacted to ensure security measures are in place to prevent theft and stampede incidents during the event.
