Ram Mandir float joins diaspora celebration of nation’s diversity at New York India Day Parade
New York, Aug 19: The Indian diaspora joyously celebrated their homeland’s cultural richness and religious diversity at the 42nd India Day Parade honouring the nation’s Independence.
A float depicting the Ayodhya Ram Mandir was featured in the parade on Sunday, along with tableaus of Muslims, Christians, and Sikhs while groups of Indian Jews and Buddhists marched under their banners.
Men and women, in a cascade of colours, beat traditional drums from Maharashtra heralding the Ram Mandir float, and along the route, people rushed spontaneously past barriers to greet it.
The parade with thousands marching and many more watching it wended along Madison Avenue in a kaleidoscope of colour rejecting attempts by a group led by a Muslim organisation to disrupt it.
The Indian American Muslim Council organised a campaign with other groups, which said they were representing Sikhs, Christians and Hindus, against the Ram Mandir float, calling it “Muslim hate, bigotry”, and appealing to public officials to ban it.
But the confluence of India’s diversity of religions, regions and languages at the parade jubilantly proclaiming the nation’s unity was a contrast to their targeted attacks on the Ram Mandir, amplified by thinly veiled Hinduphobia in the US media that had declared ahead of the event that it was controversial or “marred’ by the float’s presence.
The New York Police Department sent a contingent of officers and their band to march in the parade. NY Police Department Desi Society marched with their own banner.
A group holding the Indian Tricolour was flanked by two mounted police.
“Stop Hindu Genocide in Bangladesh” was the theme of a float calling for an end to attacks on the minority community in that country.
A man with an Israeli flag joined the group holding the float’s anti-genocide banner.
At several points along the parade route, Jews and Israelis, who are also the targets of the groups ideologically similar to those campaigning against the Ram Mandir float waved Israeli flags and cheered.
The International Organisation of Bene Israel – USA representing the Jews of India was one of the groups of marchers. (IANS)
Janai Purnima: Nepal celebrates festival of threads
KATHMANDU, Aug 19: Hundreds of devotees gathered on the embankment of the Bagmati River beside Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu to change ‘Janai’ and tie ‘Rakshyabandhan’ on the wrists of devotees to mark the festival of Janai Purnima on Monday.
The festival of Janai Purnima is observed annually on Shrawan Shukla Purnima. This year, it coincides with the Janaipurnima and Rishi Tarpani festivals. Celebrated nationwide, these events feature the wearing of the Janai (sacred thread) and Raakhi (Rakshabandhan).
Hundreds of adherents of Vedic Sanatan Dharma thronged the Bagmati embankment taking dips and tying the Rakshasutra (sacred thread) with the guidance of their Guru.
Brahmin priests, adhering to the Vedic traditions, performed chants and penance, and worshipped while tying the Rakshasutra on the right wrist of the devotee.
It is a widely held belief that wearing the Janai and Rakshasutra, with proper chants and blessings by priests protects devotees from negative influences.
Commonly called ‘Janai Purnima’ or ‘Rishi Tarpani’ the tagadharis or those who wear the ‘Janai’ (the sacred thread) around their bodies from the left shoulder to right change the sacred thread today after having a haircut and a bath.
‘Janai’ is a sacred thread that is believed to have emerged from the Yagya, a sacrificial rite or performance of duty.
Religious fairs are held at Gosainkunda, an alpine area in Rasuwa District, and at Dansanghu, Triveni in Jumla District to observe the festival with offerings to Lord Shiva.
On the side of Pashupatinath Temple, the Bhagwat Sanyash Ashram Gurukul, near the Ram Temple morning held a mass bathing ceremony and performed the rituals.
Along with this, the Buddhists observe this day in commemoration of Lord Gautam Buddha’s victory over the evil power of lust.
This episode is well-described in the Buddhist scripture ‘Lalitbistar’. A special fair is also organised at Swayambhunath in Kathmandu on this day. (ANI)