KALASH YATRA REACHED BHOJPUR

KALASH YATRA REACHED BHOJPUR

31-JULY-ENG 3

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA------------------------Grand receptions were held in Shahpur and Gajrajganj. BJP leaders and workers—including the District President, a Minister, and an MLA—offered prayers.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is celebrating the 650th birth anniversary of Sant Shiromani Ravidas Maharaj under the 'Samrasta Sankalp Abhiyan' (Social Harmony Pledge Campaign).

As part of this campaign, the *Kalash Yatra* began on the occasion of Guru Purnima from Sant Ravidas's birthplace and entered Bhojpur district on Thursday. At the Ravidas temple in Shahpur, the Shahpur MLA carried the sacred urn on his head. Leaders and workers—including BJP District President Durga Raj, Shahpur MLA Rakesh Ojha, Shahpur Nagar Mandal President Ankit Pandey, District Secretary Thakur Dayal Ram, Dhirendra Singh, Arvind Pandey, Nishant Kumar, and Santosh Pandey—welcomed the urn and the visiting guests. After placing the urn in the temple, the leaders and workers performed prayers and *Aarti*.

At the Ravidas temple in Gajrajganj, the *Kalash Yatra* received a grand welcome under the leadership of program coordinator Manish Raushan. Leaders and workers—including Bihar Government Minister Sanjay Singh 'Tiger', Mandal President Virendra Kumar, Ramdinesh Yadav, Shribhagwan Singh, and District President Durga Raj—participated in the reception. The visiting guests were welcomed with traditional stoles (*angavastra*) and flower garlands. Villagers and party workers viewed the urn after it was placed in the temple, and chants hailing Sant Ravidas were raised. Leaders and workers such as Rajkumar Kushwaha, Mamta Singh, Sunil Srivastava, Prakash Singh, Dhirendra Singh, Sanjay Kumar Singh, Balram Singh, Nishat Singh, Rahul Singh, Sunil Kumar, and Manish Gupta participated in the event.

Speaking on the occasion, Raju Jha—the State General Secretary and Bihar in-charge for the *Kalash Yatra*—stated that Sant Ravidas was a "saint among saints," which is why he is called *Sant Shiromani*. He remarked that the Bharatiya Janata Party is a party of social harmony (*samrasta*), committed to the principles of *Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, aur Sabka Vishwas* (Together with all, Development for all, and Trust of all). This year, Sant Ravidas's 650th birth anniversary is being celebrated as *Samrasta Diwas* (Social Harmony Day). The *Kalash Yatra* (procession carrying a sacred urn), which originated from Varanasi—the birthplace of Saint Ravidas—will be placed at the Hanuman Temple in Patna. This *Kalash Yatra* will traverse the entire country. The *Kalash Yatra* and the 'Samrasta Abhiyan' (Social Harmony Campaign) have been launched with the aim of fostering harmony within society and the nation.