On Thursday, Hyderabad City was filled with the fervour of Rama Navami as the Bhagyanagar Ram Navami Utsav Samithi organised a grand Shobha Yatra to mark the occasion. Devotees of all ages participated in the colourful procession, chanting slogans of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and expressing their devotion to Lord Rama. The yatra started at 1.30 pm from the historic Sita Ramachandra Swamy temple at Sitarambagh, after a kalyanam in which 200 couples participated. The main procession was flagged off by chief guest Kashi Sumeru Peethadheesh Swamy Narendranand Saraswati and Santh Bhomaramji Maharaj, who performed puja of the Sri Rama idol placed on a trolley.
The yatra was divided into three major rallies that culminated in a public meeting at the Hanuman Vyayamshala playgrounds in the evening. The rallies came from Sitarambagh, Amberpet and Filmnagar, Banjara Hills. Vehicles with idols of Sri Ram and Hanuman were arranged by the utsav samithi leaders, who were seen coordinating the yatra. Children, youth and elderly were seen dancing to the tunes of ‘teenmaar’ band and DJ playing songs like ‘Ramji ki nikli sawari’, ‘Banayenge Mandir’. Small children were dressed like Lord Ram, Lakshman and Hanuman.
As the yatra passed through the bylanes of Mangalhat and other areas, youth were seen raising slogans of ‘Jai Sri Ram’, ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’, ‘Vande Mataram’. Goshamahal MLA T Raja Singh also joined the procession and administered an oath at Siddiamber Bazar to people to make the country a ‘Hindu Rashtra’.
Swamy Narendranand Saraswati emphasised the importance of ‘shanti and kranti’ for the sanatan dharma people. “We want shanti (peace) but people should not treat this as our weakness. We need kranti (revolution) to fight non-believers who attack,” he said. Santh Bhomaramji Maharaj advised Hindus to shed casteism and unite to become Vishwaguru. He also called upon saints to openly talk in favour of dharma.
The shobha yatra passed through Dhoolpet, Puranapool, Jumerat Bazar, Chudi Bazar, Begum Bazar, Siddiamber Bazar, Gowliguda and Koti. Several organisations set up stages to welcome the yatris all along the route. Several philanthropic organisations and individuals provided drinking water, butter milk packets, cool drinks and food to the yatris. There was heavy police bandobast with almost 2,000 personnel in uniform and civil dress ensuring the yatra passed off peacefully.
