Grand display of 'sadbhavna' at swearing-in ceremony

JAIPUR: The swearing-in ceremony of Vasundhara Raje saw religious leaders cutting across faiths attending the event. Raje managers ensured representation of major temples, dargahs and churches in a grand display of 'sadbhavna' (harmony).
Prominent among those who attended the event were Mahant Kailash Sharma, chief priest of Ganesh temple at Moti Doongri, Pandit Kedar Sharma, khadims of Ajmer dargah, Bishop of Jaipur Oswald J Lewis.Priests of Ramdevra temple, Mehandipur Balaji, Pushkar's Brahma Temple also shared a common platform.
Twenty three-year-old Syed Afshan Chishty, a khadim of Ajmer dargah, was among the youngest VVIPs invited to the ceremony. He is also the chief priest of the Raje family in the dargah.
"Raje's family connection with the shrine is a century and a half old. Rajeji has continued this legacy and is a frequent visitor to the Ajmer shrine," said Chishty, who offered dastarbandi (a piece of cloth, petals) to the new chief minister.
President of Anjuman Syed Zadgan (highest body of khadims) Syed Hisamuddin Chishty also attended the ceremony. "Under Raje's rule, there was harmony. She has always kept the development of Ajmer shrine on high priority and we are sure that she will continue to work for the development of all," said Hisamuddin.
Chief priest of Ganesh temple at Moti Doongri, Mahant Kailash Sharma appreciated the efforts to bring various religious leaders together for the occasion. "Sadbhavna is key to peace, prosperity and success. By calling custodians of all faiths to bless the historic event is a good beginning by Raje," he said.
Special seating arrangements were made for these leaders. Before the ceremony, Raje acknowledged their presence and greeted them with folded hands. Soon after she took oath as the chief minister, she met them and sought their blessings and accepted their gifts.
Raje is known to be deeply religious and had kept major temples and shrines in her itinerary during Suraaj Sankalp Yatra in the state. Even when the entire state was glued to television sets to track election results, Raje was busy performing 'yagna' at Tripura Sundari temple at Banswara.