Saturday, 03 April 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
Amid scare of the Covid-19, the historic Jhanda fair commenced with the raising of the holy flag at historic Darbar Sahib, on Friday. The fair is celebrated to commemorate the auspicious occasion of the birthday and arrival of Guru Ram Rai in Doon valley in the year 1676. The huge mast of the flag was hoisted amid chanting of Bhajans by the devotees in the afternoon. This year the effect of Covid-19 was clearly visible during the ceremony and there was a considerable decrease in the number of devotees. The organisers had asked the devotees to attend the fair in limited numbers this year and the administration had imposed a compulsion of negative RT- PCR report to attend the fair. It had an effect on the attendance and less number of people as compared to past visits to the fair this time. However a large number of devotees attended the fair despite restrictions.
The holy flag mast was lowered in the morning and old cloth coverings were removed. A new mast (86 feet tall) was washed with honey, milk, water of river Ganga and curd. The devotees then covered the mast by Sada Gilafs (white cloth coverings) and Sanil Gilafs. The devotees carried these pious cloths on their heads which were wrapped on the mast. The Darshani Gilaf (the outermost cloth covering) was then wrapped on the mast. The mast was hoisted amid cheers and beating of drums by the devotees at 2.12 pm under the guidance of Mahant Devendra Dass. The faces of the devotees were lit when an eagle circled the sky over Darbar Sahib. The devotees consider sighting of the eagle as an auspicious sign on the occasion of Jhanda Fair as they believe it as a blessing by the Guru Maharaj (Guru Ram Rai).
During the process of bringing down the old flagpole and raising of the new flag, the youth ‘sangat’ devotees from Punjab were wearing yellow dress.
In the Shri Darbar Sahib premises, the Sangat (devotees) kept on singing ‘Bhajans’ and ‘kirtan’ concerned with ‘Guru Mahima’ (miracles of Guru Maharaj). The devotees also danced enthusiastically over the rhythm of the musical instrument ‘dhol’.
Mahant Devendra Dass congratulated the people and blessed the devotees on the occasion. Addressing the devotees he said that Jhanda fair spreads the message of love, harmony, mutual brotherhood, compassion and peace. He said that whoever bows at Jhande ji (the holy flag pole) his/ her wishes get fulfilled, that is why the faith of the devotees is on a constant rise year after year. In his message, Mahant Dass wished that the divine blessings of Shri Guru Ram Rai Maharaj would always remain showered over the people of India and Uttarakhand.
