‘Main dukhi toh hoon, par yeh toh Thakurji ki iccha!’
| Date :31-Mar-2020 |
Principal Correspondent :
‘Kitne saal se Ram Shobhayatra nikal rahi hai! Itne saalo me aisa ek baar bhi nahi hua jab wo nahi nikli ho. Ye pahla aisa saal hai jab shobhayatra nahi niklegi. Dukhi to hoon, par manavta ko mahatva dena jaruri samajhta hoon. Aur yeh shayad Thakurji ki bhi iccha ho’ (In last so many years Shri Ram Shobhayatra is being taken out. The continuity was never broken. But this year it will not be taken out on Shri Ram Navmi when Shri Ramji took birth. I am sad because of this, no pooja is being performed now. Of course, humanity is equally important. Probably it is the wish of Bhagwan Shri Ram).
This is what Ramkrishna Poddar, Managing Trustee of Poddareshwar Ram Mandir expressed while talking to ‘The Hitavada’. The 80-year-old Ramkrishna Poddar is the backbone of this historical and one and only one Shri Ram Shobhayatra that has completed 53 years in a row. This is its 54th year. Coronavirus outbreak compelled Poddareshwar Ram Mandir trustee to not to take out the procession on Ram Navmi. “Sometimes society, humanity play an important role.
When everywhere the continuity is getting broken because of this outbreak, shobhayatra too cannot remain out of it. This must be the wish of that almighty. It wanted us to learn something out of it. Once we come out of that danger we would have different kind of life maybe,” pointed out Poddar with choked voice. Shri Ram Shobhayatra has made all the difference not only for Nagpur but for the whole Central India. In Nagpur people in other parts too have taken leaf out of Poddareshwar Ram Mandir and started taking out such processions. Poddareshwar Ram Mandir trustees have set this tone.
Many people are attached to the shobhayatra. At least two generations have witnessed this creative procession where the lot of floats attract the attention of people. The preparation of making rath wherein Shri Ram, Janaki, Laxman and Mahabali Hanuman sit starts around December so this year too. The rath is ready but will miss the day. The meeting of Trustees along with the officials from administration and Commissioner of Police Dr Bhushan Kumar Upadhyay was held. It was the unanimous decision of Poddareshwar Ram Mandir to not to conduct procession.
Shobhayatra to be postponed Punit Poddar, Trustee of Poddareshwar Ram Mandir said, “People are not happy with the decision. We will postpone it till coronavirus matter gets finished. We had decided to take out the procession on Janki Navmi that comes in April. But chances are less to take out procession even in April. Now we have tentatively decided to do it on May 2 or 3. We have decided to hold it and will not be canceled. There are several aspects related to the procession. For example, people are commercially attached to the shobhayatra wait for it which cannot be ignored. Pooja and aarti during Ramjanma will be performed. It will shown live on Facebook and on UCN between 12.30 and 1.30 in the afternoon.”