News Analysis India

Tag: Govardhan Puja

  • Puja at Gurugram where namaz was offered earlier, BJP leader attends event

    Express News Service

    CHANDIGARH: BJP leader Kapil Mishra on Friday attended Govardhan puja held at a site in Gurugram’s Sector 12A where Muslim community people used to offer namaz every week.

    The puja was organised by the Hindu outfit Sanyukt Hindu Sangharsh Samiti.

    Many among the 30 protestors arrested for attempting to disrupt the namaz here last week before being released on bail the same day were present at Friday’s function.

    The Muslim devotees who used to offer namaz here have shifted to Sector 29. Amid a heavy police presence in the area, the protesters, mainly from various Hindu outfits, gathered and raised ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ slogans last Friday even as the members of the Muslim community were arriving at the spot to offer prayers.

    A police official said that no namaz was scheduled to be offered at the site on Friday. Kapil Mishra said the members of Muslim community should pray in mosques or arrange namaz at the Waqf Board-owned plots. 

    “Do not block roads for religion or politics as it will yield nothing, take a cue from Shaheen Bagh. Has the CAA been revoked? Everyone has equal rights in the Constitution. Blocking of roads cannot be a part of anyone’s religion. This is a way to stop and disrupt the economy of the country. The first right to roads and public spaces is of people. If we Hindus start praying in open then these sites will be blocked for entire week. I want to congratulate the people who fought for this freedom, who fought to defend these constitutional rights. This is the real fight for azadi (freedom). Not the one for which slogans of azadi are raised,” he said.

    Meanwhile, local Muslim community said that at three places — Sector 12, Sector 47 and Sector 18 — namaz were not held while at the rest of the public places the prayers happened peacefully.

    There was lot of fear, and caution was exercised to avoid any confrontation with the vigilante groups.

    At these three places Govardhan Puja was taking places thus we voluntarily decided to step back as the same was advised by police, said Muslim community member.

  • WATCH | Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel whipped to ‘bring prosperity’ for state

    By Express News Service

    Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel was whipped on Friday as part of a ritual on the occasion of Govardhan Puja. 

    As part of the Govardhan Puja tradition, the CM got whipped with ‘sonta’ (whip made up of kush, a grass) before he sought blessings for the prosperity of the state, according to officials. According to the villagers, the whip is a special one that is believed to bring prosperity and good fortune.

    प्रदेश की मंगल कामना और शुभ हेतु आज जंजगिरी में सोटा प्रहार सहने की परंपरा निभाई।सभी विघ्नों का नाश हो। pic.twitter.com/bHQNFIFzGv
    — Bhupesh Baghel (@bhupeshbaghel) November 5, 2021
    The video was recorded in a village in the Durg district of Chattisgarh when the CM was taking part in the ritual. The chief minister was clad in traditional attire and a green turban.

    Baghel was seen standing with his arms stretched before a man starts whipping him. After eight rounds, the man stopped and hugged the CM.

    In a video posted by Baghel on Twitter, a middle-aged man was seen whipping the Chhattisgarh CM as drums and other musical instruments were played in the background.

    As per the tradition, on Govardhan Puja, a person is beaten up with the whip with full force on his hands as people believe that the practice helps in getting rid of the problems and bringing good luck, a report said.