AUDIENCE SWAYED IN ECSTASY AT SAHJAULI SANKIRTAN

AUDIENCE SWAYED IN ECSTASY AT SAHJAULI SANKIRTAN

5-MAY-ENG 6

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA--------------------------A 24-hour continuous *Akhand Sankirtan* (devotional chanting) ceremony at the Dev Dinesh Complex in Sahjauli Mathia, located in the Shahpur block of Bhojpur district, concluded following a *Havan* (sacred fire ritual) and *Bhandara* (community feast), amidst the chanting of Vedic mantras. During the Sankirtan, artists captivated the audience with their melodious rhythms, beats, and devotional hymns, compelling them to sway in spiritual ecstasy.

On this occasion, a large number of people—including political stalwarts and other dignitaries—participated in the event.

The Sankirtan ceremony witnessed the arrival of numerous prominent leaders and administrative officials, including former MP Meena Singh; General Secretary of the Bihar Nagarik Parishad, Arvind Singh (alias Chhotu Singh); MLA Radhacharan Sah (alias Seth Ji); State BJP leader Mukteshwar Ojha (alias Bhuar Ojha); former MLA Rahul Tiwari (alias Mantu Tiwari); Principal of Tridandi Dev Government College, Gulab Falhari; Dr. Ranganath Tiwari; BJP leader Ashok Singh; and a Judge from the Buxar Court.

A large number of local residents also actively participated in the event. The organizers of the program included Dinesh Ojha, Mantu Ojha (Director of Dev Dinesh Indane, Gajrajganj), Ramesh Ojha, Sanjay Kumar Ojha, Chandan, Kundan, Venkatesh, and others. Several artists—including Karunesh Pandey from Ballia, *Kirtan Samrat* (Emperor of Kirtan) Lalbihari Singh, Yash, Mantu, Pawan, and Subodh—left the audience spellbound with their artistic prowess and rhythmic performances.