Shri Renuka Ji: With the arrival of palanquin of Lord Parshuram on the bank of Renuka lake International Renuka Ji fair, the biggest cultural and religious event of Himachal Pradesh commenced here today with traditional fervor. The palanquin of Lord Parshuram was brought in a traditional process from the ancient temple in Jamu Koti village to Senior Secondary School ground on the bank of Giri River at Dadahu, where thousands of devotees and half a dozen palanquins of different deities brought from different parts of the district were waiting for the arrival of palanquin of lord Parshuram.
Chief Minister of Himachal Pradessh Jai Ram Thakur was the first who performed traditional Puja and Devabhinandan [welcome ceremony of deities] of palanquin of Lord Parshuram and other deities in the ground of Dr Y. S. Parmar senior secondary school at Dadahu as per tradition. The occasion was witnessed by thousands of local residents and visitor devotees.
Picking up the palanquin of lord Parshuram on his shoulders Chief Minister initiated the process of Lord Parshuram in the after noon. The Shobha Yatra in a traditional manner went through Dadahu market with the Devdhun [devotional sound] of hundreds of traditional musical instruments, and ancient Sirmouri devotional songs dedicated to Lord Parshuram and Bhagwati Renuka ji. Lakhs of devotees participated in this divine religious procession which ended on the bank of Renuka Lake.
At Renuka, Devabhinandan was performed as son [Lord Parshuram] had arrived at the home of his mother [Bhagwati Renuka Ji] and palanquin of lord Parshuram and other deities were put in the ancient Parshuram temple for Darshan.
Local shopkeepers, officers and social workers attending Renuka fair continuously for the past more than three decades, says that the attendance of devotees in the fair was on a decrease due of crass commercialization of
the fair and disappearing traditional facilities to spend a night in the lap of nature on Renuka Tirtha as per ancient tradition. On the occasion of Devprobodhini Ekadashi Lakhs of devotees would take holy dip in the
Renuka Lake tomorrow on 14th of November. In Renuka Ji, it is purely a religious and cultural environment in the fair.
Chief Minister said that fairs and festivals were the integral part of our rich cultural repository and concerted efforts must be made to conserve the same for the generations to come. Later, Chief Minister paid obeisance in the Lord Parshuram temple and Mata Renuka ji temple.
Chief Minister also inaugurated the developmental exhibition in the fair installed by various departments. Chief Minister was given rousing reception enroute from Chauri Ki Dhar helipad, about 10 kilometres from Renuka ji to the Mela Ground.
