Desi ghee ‘bhandara’, mass marriage on Kabir Jayanti

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, June 28

A mass marriage ceremony and a blood donation camp were organised during the Kabir Jayanti event organised here on Thursday. Marriages of 101 couples were solemnised sans dowry. A desi ghee ‘bhandara’ was also organised.

A large number of followers of controversial saint Rampal from different parts of the country attended the event despite rain. The organisers claimed that several participants had come from other countries as well.

The Rohtak-Panipat NH 709 got blocked due to the massive presence of participants and the vehicular traffic had to be diverted through alternative routes.

Tight security arrangements had been made in view of observance of Kabir Jayanti by Rampal’s followers and parallel ‘Vedic Dharm Sandesh Yatra’ processions taken out by Arya Samaj followers under the aegis of Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Haryana.

The local police-administration heaved a sigh of relief after the event passed off peacefully.

It may be pertinent to mention here that Rampal, who claims to be the spiritual successor of Saint Kabir, has been criticising the Arya Samaj and the followers of the two sects have a history of clashes.

Rampal is currently lodged in jail and undergoing trials in cases of murder and sedition.

Discourses delivered by Rampal were played on LED screens put up in the 30-acre pandal erected on the ‘pashu-mela’ ground located on Gohana road on the outskirts of the town.

Several other organisations also celebrated Kabir Jayanti in the town and other parts of the district.