Touseef Wani
Ganderbal, September 4:Janmashtami, marking the birth of Lord Krishna, was celebrated with religious devotion, enthusiasm and traditional fervour across parts of Ganderbal district on Friday.
The celebrations were marked by a traditional religious procession organised by members of the local Pandit community, bringing together devotees of different age groups to commemorate the auspicious occasion.
The procession commenced from the historic temple at Nunnar and passed through adjoining areas before culminating at the Devraj Temple in Chapergund.
A large number of devotees, including men, women and children, participated in the procession. Carrying religious symbols and observing traditional practices, the participants offered prayers and chanted devotional hymns along the route as the procession moved through the area.
The atmosphere remained devotional and peaceful, with devotees expressing their faith and cultural connection with the festival. Participants said that Janmashtami holds deep religious and cultural significance for the Pandit community and provides an opportunity to preserve and celebrate age-old traditions.
The devotees expressed satisfaction over the peaceful conduct of the celebrations and appreciated the cooperation extended by the district administration, police and local residents.
During the celebrations, participants also prayed for peace, prosperity, brotherhood and communal harmony in Jammu and Kashmir, stressing the importance of mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.
To ensure the smooth and peaceful conduct of the event, the district administration and police had made elaborate security arrangements and deployed personnel along the procession route. Necessary arrangements were also put in place to facilitate the participation of devotees and ensure that the religious programme proceeded without disruption.
The procession and associated celebrations concluded peacefully, with no untoward incident reported.
Members of the Pandit community expressed gratitude to the district administration, police personnel and local residents for their cooperation and support in ensuring the peaceful observance of Janmashtami in Ganderbal.
