CROWD FLOCKS TO THE KALASH YATRA

CROWD FLOCKS TO THE KALASH YATRA

8-APRIL-ENG 3

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

BHABHUA-------------------------The Shri Lakshmi Narayan Mahayagya commenced on Tuesday in Baheri village, located within the jurisdiction of the Karamchat police station in the block. This grand sacrificial ritual began under the divine guidance and presence of Shri Lakshmi Prapanna Jiyar Swami Ji Maharaj. To mark this auspicious occasion, a massive *Kalash Shobhayatra* (sacred pot procession) was organized.

The procession began at the *Yagya Mandap* (sacrificial pavilion), with thousands of men, women, and young devotees participating alongside elephants, horses, camels, chariots, and musical bands. Carrying sacred pots (*Kalash*) upon their heads, the devotees walked all the way to the banks of the Durgavati River in Sabar village.

Throughout the journey, the entire region reverberated with chants of "Jai Shri Ram," "Har Har Mahadev," and devotional hymns. At the banks of the Durgavati River, a team of learned priests led by Dr. Manoj Kumar Pandey—who had arrived from Kashi-Varanasi—assisted the devotees in filling their sacred pots with water while chanting Vedic mantras.

Subsequently, the devotees returned to the *Yagya Mandap* carrying the water-filled pots on their heads, where the pots were formally installed according to ritualistic traditions. The principal hosts (*Yajmans*) of this grand sacrificial ceremony are Manoj Kumar Dubey (alias 'Mantu Dubey') and his wife, Reena Devi.

Arrangements have been made at the venue for a 25-altar (*Kundiya*) Mahayagya. The formal rituals commenced on Tuesday with the *Jalbhari* (water-filling ceremony) and the *Mandap Pravesh* (entry into the pavilion). During the *Kalash Shobhayatra*, a long procession—spanning approximately one kilometer—was observed, comprising devotees, vehicles, elephants, horses, and camels.

To ensure security, a police force led by Karamchat Station House Officer (SHO) Pankaj Kumar Paswan was deployed at the site. Additionally, an ambulance provided by the Health Department remained stationed at the venue.

According to the organizing committee, religious discourses and spiritual sermons (*Katha-Pravachan*) began as early as Monday. Every day, from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM, various saints and spiritual masters are delivering these discourses. The *Purnahuti* (concluding ceremony) of the Mahayagya, along with a grand community feast (*Bhandara*), is scheduled to take place on April 12th.