Jalabhishek Yatra held peacefully in Nuh amid internet ban, security measures

Indian Express

2 days ago

Chants of 'Bum Bum Bholenath' and 'Har Har Mahadev' were interspersed with the usual greetings of 'Radhe Radhe' and 'Ram Ram' among devotees as the Braj Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra began from the Nalhar Shiv Temple in Haryana's Nuh on Monday.
Vishram Kumar Meena, Deputy Commissioner (DC), Nuh, who was present at the site to oversee welfare and security measures for devotees, told The Indian Express that by noon, some 9,000 devotees had thronged Nuh, including some who were still on their way to the temple. 'By the end of the night, we expect the number to cross 30,000.'
Additional arrangements were in place as violence had broken out during the yatra two years ago, in which six people were killed. On Sunday night too, a small Muslim shrine in Tauru was partially vandalised. 'I went to the site with a sub-divisional magistrate and a deputy superintendent of police at 6 am and we spoke to the shrine's caretaker, who is a Hindu, and he filed a complaint. It was an attempt by miscreants to disturb the peace here, but we spoke with the people living there and the situation did not escalate,' DC Meena said.
The Jalabhishek Yatra, held on the first day of Sawan (a holy month for Lord Shiva devotees) began at around 12.30 pm and passed three Shiva temples, located in Nalhar, Ferozepur Jhirka and Singar, in Nuh.
However, amid grey clouds and occasional spells of rain post 2 pm, the devotees were largely seen to be returning home after their visit to the first temple. School kids handed out booklets about the yatra and the temples to passersby, while filming the drones overhead with their phones.
'We are very happy with all the arrangements and to be here to pray to our Lord,' said a woman devotee who had reached Nalhar temple with her infant and friends.
Late on Monday afternoon, the temple at Jhirka was teeming with devotees as shower spells brought some respite from the heat.
Even as a 24-hour mobile internet ban was in place in the region from 9 pm on Sunday evening, internet was still partially accessible, courtesy signals from towers in the bordering state of Rajasthan. Meat and liquor shops along the route were kept closed to ensure that no sentiments were hurt, Meena added.
'We have been here and ready since 4 am when the first devotees came,' said a member of the Nalhar temple committee while handing out steel jugs to a flood of devotees who then poured over the water from it onto the Shivling as part of the prayers.
Violence during Jalabhishek Yatra in 2023
The Jalabhishek Yatra was started by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) three years ago to 'revive holy Hindu sites' in the district where Muslims constitute 79.2% of the population as per the 2011 Census.
In 2023, violence had broken out during the yatra, during which six people, including Bajrang Dal members and a cleric at a mosque in Gurgaon, were killed after bullets were fired from the hills behind the Nalhar temple. This time, one of the accused in the case, Faridabad resident and cow vigilante Bittu Bajrangi, was directed by the police to stay at home and not leave.
'We did not detain or arrest him. Only told him to stay home and he complied. The request was in view of possible law and order issues,' said a spokesperson for the Faridabad police. The move, along with coordination with peace committees, seems to have ensured peaceful congregations.
Bajrangi could not be reached for a comment.
'All communities and sects came together harmoniously and provided all help to devotees, including water, and welcomed them with petals. All devotees said they were very happy and this was a showcase of the religious harmony here, notwithstanding what happened two years ago,' said Aazad Mohammad, former Haryana cabinet minister and Ferozepur Jhirka peace committee president. He ran at least eight of the 41 welcome points in Nuh, kiosks of sorts providing water and soft beverages to devotees.
Mohammed added that after discussion and consultation with peace committees and the district administration, most shops and businesses along the route voluntarily kept their shutters closed for the day to ensure that the yatra faced no hassles.