Mumbai
Deonar
All pro-Hindu organizations took out a procession (Shobha-Yatra) in which volunteers of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) participated, carrying display-boards with enlightening matter. After conclusion of the procession, Shri. Kishore Awaty of HJS explained the science for celebrating ‘Gudhi Padava’. He also made an appeal to know the science for all Hindus’ festivals rather than falling prey to misleading propaganda made through social websites.
Ghatkopar
HJS organized a program in a housing society. Shri. Sagar Chopdar explained the importance of ‘Gudhi Padava’ to attendees. He also explained the difference in new years celebrated by Christians and as per Hindus’ calendar on ‘Gudhi Padava’. The lecture was attended by 55 people.
Bhandup
A lecture was held on the topic of ‘Gudhi Padava’ in ‘Haldi-kumkum’ program held for women during ‘Shri Satyanarayana Mahapuja’. Sou. Prajakta Sawant of HJS explained the importance of Hindu Dharma and festivals and how it was wrong to celebrate New Year as per English calendar.
Raigad
Rasayani
‘Shiva-garjana Pratishthan Mandal (Mandal)’ had organized a program, on the occasion of ‘Gudhi Padava’, to inaugurate memorial of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj built at Kasalkhand village. HJS put up an exhibition of flex-boards on life history of revolutionaries. The exhibition was inaugurated by MLA Shri. Manohar Bhoir of Shiv Sena, by lighting lamp. Shri. Bhoir said, “Activities undertaken by Sanatan Sanstha and HJS, related to creation of awareness towards Dharma-matters, are commendable. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj fought and defeated the Mughals; therefore, we are able to live happily today. Every house should have his picture because the work done by Chhatrapati Shivaraya is invaluable. I thank HJS for putting up such exhibition.”
Highlights : Shri. Uday Gharat, a reader of ‘Sanatan Prabhat’ and Shri. Arun Patil of ‘Mandal’ and his colleagues helped in organizing the exhibition.
Kalamboli
‘Gudhi-pujan’ was performed by Sanatan’s couple Shri. and Sou. Mandhare; and organized by ‘Nava-varsha Swagat Samiti’. A procession was taken out in the evening for welcoming New Year. Members of Ranaragini Division and First-aid squad joined the procession. Demos on self-defence were presented by Ranaraginis who also did ‘aukshan’ of MLA Shri. Prashant Thakur of BJP and Shri. Baban Patil, former District-Chief of Shiv Sena. More than 2000 devout Hindus had joined the procession.
Shri. Krushna Kadam of Shiv Sena said after watching the demo on self-defence, “This is mainly required in present time. You contact us for presenting these demos on stage. We will extend all help.”
Kamothe
The procession was started with recitation of the ‘aarti’ of ‘Bharatmata’. More than 3000 devout Hindus participated in the procession to welcome New Year which was organized by ‘Nava-varsha Swagat Pheri Samiti’ and other like-minded organizations. Demos on self-defence were presented on behalf of Ranaragini Division at 3 places and its first-aid squad had also joined the procession. Sou. Mohini Mandhare spoke on ‘Self-defence training – need of the hour’ while concluding the program. Shri. Nilesh Thale of RSS demanded for another presentation of demos.
Ramnath (Alibaug)
On behalf of ‘Nava-varsha Swagat Samiti’, Shri. and Sou. Palanitkar performed ‘Gudhi-pujan’. Science behind celebration of Gudhi Padava was explained during the procession taken out to welcome New Year through an open mobile van with the help of loudspeakers. The procession was concluded with singing of all stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’ By Shri. Ajinkya Marathe of HJS.
Pen
Procession to welcome New Year was taken out in the evening from Shri Rameshwar Mandir, Hanuman Lane by local ‘Nava-varsha Swagat Samiti’ and like-minded organizations. It was started with blowing of conch. Sanatan Sanstha did ‘puja’ of the idol carried in ‘palakhi’. More than 1000 people joined the procession with lot of enthusiasm, wearing traditional clothes.
Roha
Procession was organized by ‘Sphoorti Pratishthan’ and like-minded organizations. It was started with Ram Maruti Chowk. Demos of different games and ‘lezim’ squad also joined the procession. There were more than 150 devout Hindus in the procession.
Thergaon, Pune
A procession was taken out from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Dange Chowk to Bapuji buva Mandir. It was started with garlanding the statue and ‘Dharma-dhvaj-pujan’, followed with ‘Shiva-vandana’. Small children participated in the procession in the attires of Prabhu Shriram, Lakshman and Hanuman. There was also a ‘Bhajani Mandal’ of women in the procession.
At few places on the route, citizens did ‘Dharma-dhvaj-pujan’. Demos of Indian games, ‘lathi-kathi’, chain etc were presented during the procession. ‘Aarti’ of Shri Ganesh and Prabhu Shriram were recited besides ‘Shiva-vandana’. Members of various organizations like ‘Shiva-vandana’, RSS, HJS joined the procession.
Sangli
Procession to welcome New Year was taken with huge enthusiasm at Sangli and Miraj. Procession was taken out from Datta Mandir to Brahmanpuri at Miraj via Venaswami Mutt; starting with ‘Gudhi-pujan’ at Datta Mandir. ‘Ram-palakhi’ with religious books on exhibit, children wearing attires of great national leaders, music bands, ISKCON seekers, members of various pro-Hindu organizations, BJP, ‘Shivateertha Samiti’ etc participated in the procession. BJP-MLA Shri. Suresh Khade along with Shri. Tanaji Gharge, Shri. Omkar Shukla, Shri. Sunil Dhoble, Shri. Vinayak Mainkar, Shri. Sudhir Avasare, Shri. Raju Shinde, volunteers of HJS viz. Shri. Satish Saravade, Mahesh Kavare etc along with many other activists had joined the procession.
The procession started after ‘Gudhi-pujan’ by MLA Shri. Sudhir Gadgil at Kalpadrum Maidan, Vishrambaug. Music bands, ‘lazim’ etc joined the procession with people in traditional clothes and everyone in the procession was wearing saffron turban including Dr. Vivek Kulkarni, Shri. Anand Kulkarni and Shri. Rahul Gondkar. Few schools like Swa. Savarkar Pratishthan’s school, schools run by ‘Sangli Shikshan Pratishthan’ and others participated in the procession. Procession was also taken out by Deccan Manufacturing Association, Madhav Nagar and Tarang Multipurpose Sanstha. Many social and women’s organizations participated in this procession.
Solapur
The procession taken out on the occasion of New Year exhibited Hindu culture. ‘Pujan’ of picture-frame of ‘Bharatmata’ was performed by Shri. Subhash Deshmukh, ‘Sahakar-Mantri’ along with lighting of lamp and ‘Gudhi-pujan’. Mayor Shobha Banashetty, Dy.Mayor Shashikala Battul, Founder of local ‘Hindu Nava-varsha Mahotsav Samiti’ Ranganath Bang, its President Pentappa Gaddam were the main dignitaries present on the occasion.
Guardian Minister Vijaykumar Deshmukh, ‘Shri Siddheshwar Devasthan Panchakamiti’s President Dharmaraj Kadadi, Dandavate Maharaj, Damodar Dargad, RSS- city Sanghchalak Rajendra Katave, Mohan Date known for making almanacs, Shiv Sena’s city-Chief Pratap Chavan etc participated in the procession.
Model of the proposed Ram Mandir in Ayodhya prepared by VHP and Bajarang Dal was quite attractive. The whole atmosphere resonated with the slogans raised by members of Ranaragini Division. Few children were in attire of Shankar, Shrikrushna and Lokmanya Tilak. Devout Hindu young and old women participated in the procession wearing nine-yard saris and turbans. Banner of Ranaragini Division was carried in the beginning so also flex-boards with enlightening matter written on them and saffron flags.
Highlights
Women from ‘Rangnath Bang Nava-varsha Samiti’ showed interest in knowing more about Ranaragini Division. They said that they had heard about Ranaragini Division and about their good work. They were told about the drive undertaken by Ranaragini against love jihad.
HJS joined the procession taken out in Miraj. Small children participating in the procession asked for banner of HJS and carrying it in their hand, they joined the procession. Presence of small children in the procession was noteworthy.
