Jhanda mela set to begin, 94-ft flagpole to be hoisted today

Dehradun: The annual Jhanda Mela is set to commence onSunday and will continue till March 26, with devotees from across the country, including Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and UP, arriving in the city ahead of the traditional flag-hoisting ceremony that dates back to 1676. As per custom, ‘sangats' (groups of devotees) reach Dehradun a day in advance to take part in the festivities.The 94-ft-high sacred flagpole was ceremonially brought to Darbar Sahib on Friday amid chants and devotional fervour, ahead of the hoisting scheduled for Sunday. The sangat(groups of devotees) carried the towering flagpole on their shoulders, accompanied by cheers and religious chants. Mahant Devendra Das Maharaj of Darbar Sahib said, "Jhanda Mahotsav is a sacred fair symbolising love, harmony, brotherhood, humanity, devotion and unwavering faith. By the grace and blessings of the Guru, the fair brings together people of all religions and communities."Vijay Gulati, fair officer of the Jhanda Mela organising committee, said that on Sunday, the process of lowering Jhande Ji, the sacred flagpole, will begin at 7 am. Later, between 2 pm and 4 pm, the sacred flagpole will be ceremoniously hoisted The Jhanda Mela holds deep historical significance for the Doon Valley as it commemorates the establishment of the first settlement in the region by Guru Ram Rai, eldest son of the seventh Sikh Guru Har Rai, in the 17th century. As per tradition, every year on the fifth day after Holi (Chaitra Vadi Panchami), the birth anniversary of Guru Ram Rai is celebrated, and the Jhanda Mela is organised on this occasion.