Thane, Jan 21: In the heart of Thane, where chief minister Eknath Shinde kickstarted his political journey, the city is abuzz with preparations for the imminent Pran Pratishta at Ram Mandir. Shinde’s trajectory from Thane’s grassroots politics to joining forces with the BJP sets the stage for a political spectacle in Maharashtra.
The Maruti Mandir Trust, tasked with embellishing the city for the occasion, spared no effort. On Monday, adorned with thousands of lamps and Ram flags provided by the trust, yhr mandir will set the festive tone. Throughout January, various activities for the event of Pran Pratishta unfolded, like occasional Maha Aarti and Bhandara culminating in an evening Hanuman bhajan.
The spotlight, however, was on the Rath Yatra slated for today, a day before the Pran Pratishtha. Covering 3.2 km from Shri Balaji Mandir, Mulund, to Barku Patil Playground, Islampur, the peaceful procession saw over 8000 attendees. More than 30 individuals were pulling the rath at various stops, showcasing multiple traditions of Maharashtra and India, including classical dance and lezim performances. Accompanying the Rath was a kirtang group of 200 Iskcon devotees, a small replica of Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir, and a Hanuman idol. At the destination in Islampur, Nandini Rao Gujjar, a well-known Carnatic singer from Pune performed devotional songs.
A noteworthy feature of the event was its non-political nature, emphasized by Ajit Soni, who claimed, “Everyone here is a Ram Sevak, and hence no one here is an authoritative person. Everyone is working for the devotion of Ram.” RSS members, led by Mahesh Kotak, were assisting in maintaining discipline.
Thane’s Executive Chairman of the Mandir Trust, Nagrao Mane, expressed pride in the city’s readiness to welcome Ram tomorrow. At the Panch Parmeshwar Temple, a procession, Bhandara, and continuous chanting of Ram are on the agenda. The Muhurat of Pran Pratishta will take place at 11 am, following similar rituals like Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir, said temple association member Vimla Goswami.
As Thane gears up for this significant event, the city is poised to witness a confluence of politics, tradition, and devotion, making it a day to remember in the heart of Maharashtra.
Written by PG Journalism Students Anupama Ghosh, Vaishnavi Rasanbhaire
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