Shiv baraat processions draw crowd in pilgrim city
Tribune News Service
Haridwar, March 8
A religious procession, Shiv baraat, was held as part of the Maha Shivratri festival here today. The baraat was a major attraction for local people, pilgrims and tourists and onlookers were present at the entire stretch that procession covered from the Subash ghat, Kankhal to Jwalapur.
Doiwala MLA Heera Singh Bisht, local MLA Madan Kaushik and former MLA Ambrish Kumar, along with saints and eminent citizens took part in a Lord Shiva procession at the Til Bhandeshwar temple at Khankal. A langar (common kitchen) was also organized on the temple premises.
A large number of people participated in similar religious processions from the Gayatri temple, Devthan in Jwalapur and the Prakasheshwar temple, Subash Ghat near Har-ki-Pauri.
Social activist Vipul Marwadi, who took part in the Gayatri temple procession, said Shiv baraat is a major attraction in Haridwar, which was being organised for decades.
Teerth purohit Anshul Shri Kunj added that Shiv baraat comprises a tableaux related with Lord Shiva, deity Parvati, deity Ganesha as well as participants who paint their body with ‘bhasma’ and ‘dhuni’.