Traditional Dogriyat marked DSS Lohri celebrations

          As an annual ritual, the Dogra Sadar Sabha celebrated the Lohri festival in the traditional way under their president Th. Gulchain Singh Charak at the Dogra Bhawan on the 13^thof January 2019. Members of the Sabha assembled at the Sabha Bhawan and exchanged pleasantries in the traditional way as the younger sought blessings of the elders. The traditional Lohri fire was lit and the members went round in ‘Parikrama’ offering ‘Ahuti’ of Revari and Ground Nuts. Member Dogras from across communal, religious cross sections of life shared the Prasad and greeted each other. Th. Gulchain Singh explained the importance of the holy function and its background that marks the communal harmony and inter-community kindheartedness and concerns for the weak and helpless.The Sabha members wholeheartedly complimented the organizers for the celebrations held a day earlier on the Lohri eve in the city of temples that included the Lohri procession that covered most of the city reviving the old age tradition of the Dogras. The vast gatherings of all age groups in traditional Dogra attires reminded people of the old days of Dogra rule who celebrated it in Mubarak Mandi. Th. Gulchain Singh apprised the members of some activity that has started towards restoration of Mubarak Mandi. He strongly pointed out that the centre of all Dogra activities and the hub centre of Dogra rule and heritage is in shambles and is deteriorating day by day to get extinct.  He pointed out that it is a matter of great concern that we as a race of Dogras are fading away from records and losing our identity with every passing year. Even the Jammu festival has lost its originality, glare and traditional glamour. He once again called upon all Dogras to rise above the party lines and personalized ambitions and get together with one voice to save the Dogra culture and Dogriyat and the identity of the race from obliteration from history.All members prayed for early normalcy in the State and establishment of peace, law and order. They also cautioned against the shift of the Pakistani infiltration bids towards Jammu Division after heavy snow fall in the upper reaches and called for strict vigilance by security forces and alertness by one and all.Prominent among those who joined the Lohri celebration included Prof NK Dogra, Sh. Prem Sagar Gupta, Col Dr Virendra K Sahi, VrC, S. Kulbeer Singh, Shri Janak Khajuria, Shri Madan Randeela, Shri S Peter, Master Chhankar Singh, Shri Ravi Singh Slathia, Shri Amrik Singh, S. Hukumat Singh &Dr Vidya Sagar Sharma and many others.

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