Hindu New Year begins with fun, festivities and fairs across state

Jaisalmer: A nine-day fair began on Saturday at the 1,200-year-old famous Tanot Rai Mata temple in Jaisalmer on Chaitra Navratri. The temple organised a yagya in the presence of 166 BSF Commandant Kulwant Sharma, 2IC SKSonkar, deputy Commandant Kunjan Prasad and many jawans and officers. A large number of devotees took part in the ‘aarti’. During the Indo-Pak wars of 1965 and 1971, it is said that the bombs dropped at Tanot Mata temple on Indo-Pak border did not explode.
The priest of this temple is a BSF jawan. The jawans not only take care of the temple, but also take care of thousands of pilgrims by providing food and extending other facilities. BSF has also made medical arrangements for all the pilgrims.
Meanwhile, the Sindhi community on Saturday celebrated Cheti Chand and held a march with 50 tableaus that passed through various parts of the city. The main show was of Jhulelal, which were decorated in trucks and cars amid chanting of slogans ‘Ayo Lal, Jhule Lal.’ The march started from Jhulelal temple at Delhi Gate and was welcomed at many places and snacks were distributed to those who participated in the march. The march passed through Kachari Road, Station Road and was welcomed by different organisations and market associations. It is an important occasion for Sindhi community.