Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 17: The festivals of Anant Chaturdashi and Veth Truvah were celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety across J&K.
The annual Anant Chaturdashi Hawan was performed by Anantnag Prabandhak Committee at Nagabal Anantnag today with full fervour, gaitey and devotion. In spite of election process many devotees from Jammu, Anantnag and other areas participated in the function.
The hawan started on 16th evening and concluded on this afternoon after performing all rituals. After Puja a team of devotees led by its president S K Kandroo visited Devibal to pay obeisance to Mata Ragyna Bhagwati and also to Reshi Reshmol Sahab. Naveed was served to all devotees.
Anantnag Prabandhak Committee received moral and logistics support from many agencies in smooth conducting of Hawan.
Those present during these proceedings include BK Wantoo, vice president, DK Handoo general secretary, Chand Jee Goja, Anil Razdan, Ramesh Bhat and others.
In connection with Veth Truvah, the divine birthday of the river Vitasta also known as Jehlum falls on Triyodashi Shukla Paksh of Bhadrapada functions were held at different places in Kashmir.
A grand function was held at Vitasta temple Verinag on the occasion by Vitasta Devasthan Prabandhak Committee as usual headed by Ashok Kumar Koul its Chairman and R K Bhat general secretary.
Hundreds of devotees attended the function which started on September 15 with Maha Yagya and concluded on September 16 with Puranahuti. The devotees were served Prashad after Puranahuti and flag hoisting ceremony as also performed.
Veth Truvah was also celebrated at Pushyar Mandir Habbakadal, Srinagar. On this day Havan was performed by president SBSP Sanjay Raina, vice president APWAS Amit Zadoo. The whole programme was initiated by Anita Chandpuri of Samooh. The celebrations included Havan, Pooja and lighting of earthen lamps in the evening, made to float on the river surface .
Children from the Pandit community performed a cultural programme which was coordinated by Deepika Dhar. The whole programme was organised by Kamal Chandpuri, Manesh Dhar and Vijay Koul.
Meanwhile, an annual Hawan was performed by Mata Bhuvaneshori Asthapan Committee Chandpora Harwan in which devotees from different parts of country and abroad participated.
The Hawan started on September 15 and culminated with Puranahuti yesterday. The devotees were served with Prashad after Puranahuti.
Vedic Guru Jaikrishan Khar recited Vedic hymns and Nandi was installed in the temple amid chanting of Vedic hymns by religious scholars. L D Kaul a Vedic scholar also gave religious discourses on the occasion. The Hawan was performed by MBAC under the supervision of Tej Krishan Bhat its vice president.