Hyderabad: Hanuman jayanti was celebrated in the city on Thursday, with enthusiasm with the devotees reciting ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ in various temples. A hailstorm and thundershowers did not deter the devotees.
While two mammoth processions wound their way through the city, 171 tributary processions originated from places; 50 processions from Cyberabad and Rachakonda commissionerates converged in the main procession.
Hyderabad police commissioner C.V. Anand said, "In view of the disturbances all over the country, the city police mined their data, last year experiences and current happenings from all the intelligence sources to organise a peaceful procession.”
He participated in the prayers at the Rama Mandir in Gowliguda and visited the procession in the morning. In addition to mobile patrols, the procession was accompanied by armed personnel and closely monitored through drones and CCTV cameras.
Special pujas were held across the temples, and there was food distribution along with prasadam. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal had organised the recital of ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ at Koti. The devotees who had observed the 41-day Hanuman deeksha completed it on Thursday.
The main procession which started from the Rama Mandir at Gowliguda passed through Gowliguda, Koti, Sultan Bazaar, Ramkote, Kacheguda, Narayanguda, Gandhinagar, Kavadiguda, Bansilalpet, Paradise, Imperial Garden and culminated at Hanuman Mandir at Tadban.
Dr Bhagwant Rao, procession organiser, thanked the devotees for participating in such large numbers. Local VHP president Narender Goud, secretary Pandari Nath as well as rally convener Mudupu Yadireddy took part.
The rally saw the participation of the youth in large numbers, many of whom were seen wearing traditional outfits waving the Hanuman flags as well as chanting his name. All along the rally route, the devotees were offered fruit juices and water bottles by the people.
