THE millennia-old city Varanasi welcomed the Nav Samvastar 2067 of Bharatiya calendar by holding a series of programmes at the ghats and many other places on March 16. Programmes were also held in different parts of the country to welcome the New Year.
Sanskar Bharati and Kashi Welfare Society jointly organised a function at Dashashvmedh Ghat to greet the New Year with Kathak, Thumri and Kajari dances. The Kathak dance performed by two artists, Vishal and Krishna, touched the heart of the audience. Both the artists began their performance with Durga Stuti and then staged many dances which received much applause from the people. The function began with the dhyeya geet by students of Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth. Dr Kameshwar Upadhyaya, national convener of Akhil Bharatiya Vidwat Parishad, was the chief guest. There are reports of organising similar functions in Lucknow, Delhi, Jodhpur and many parts of the country also.
The Sangh swayamsevaks of Kashi Mahanagar Dakshin conducted a pathsanchalan in the morning of March 16 to greet the New Year. The pathsanchalan began from Madhav Udyan Park and passing through Kashi Hindu University, Lanka, Assi, Sonarpura, Bhalupure, Chetmani Crossing, Ramjanaki Mandir, Durga Kunda and Sankatmochan concluded at Lanka Madhavkunj Park where the swayamsevaks performed Adya Sarsanghachalak Pranam. More than 1000 swayamsevaks participated in this pathsanchalan, which was widely welcomed by the people by showering flower petals.
A similar pathsanchalan was organised on March 14 by the swayamsevaks. It began from Town Hall ground and passing through Lahurabir, Chetaganj, Godolia, Chowk and Bulanala culminated at Town Hall ground itself. The Ghosh was led by Zila Pracharak Shri Vishwa Pratap. Swayamsevaks from Praudh to Shishu participated in the pathsanchalan. Kashi Vibhag Pracharak Shri Manoj appealed to the countrymen to celebrate the Hindu New Year as a national festival. He urged the people to light lamps and plant saplings on the eve of the New Year. He also stressed the need to inculcate Indian values into the new generation.
To greet the rising Sun of the New Year, Vedic students of Shri Vidya Mutt assembled on the Shankaracharya Ghat of Kashi at dawn and performed yogik ashanas. The programme was organised under the auspices of Vidyashri Dharmarth Nyas. The programme began with Ganesh Vandana and people offered arghya to the Sun God wishing for the wellbeing of the world. The function was also attended by DIG Shri DK Thakur, Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, astrology scholar Dr Atul Tandon and many others.
In a similar programme, 101 Vedic students of Annapurna Mutt temple and other devotees offered arghya to the rising Sun amidst chanting of Vedic mantras at Ramkund in Luxa. District judge Shri VN Shukla attended the programme. To give a musical touch to the occasion, Ustad Jamin Husain performed Shehnai recital. The programme was organised by Sankalp, a social organisation. Another social organisation, Matrishakti Sewa Sansthan, celebrated the occasion in a different way by distributing Tulsi plants among people at Hanuman temple, Orderly Bazar. Besides, programmes were also organised at Dashashwamedh Ghat and other places by different organisations to welcome the Nav Samvatsar.
Jodhpur Navvarsha Mahotsava Samiti conducted a procession in the city from Jalori Gate to Rajiv Gandhi crossing. In another function organised at Rajiv Gandhi Crossing at night the saints and people of the city lighted 2067 lamps in the map of Bharat. Many distinguished people of the city were present on the occasion. They included Leader of Opposition Shri Ganesh Bijani, Shri Narpatlal Lodha, Shri Bhanwarlal Chaudhari and many others. This function was widely welcomed by the people. Similar other functions were also organised in many parts of Rajasthan.
(FOC)
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