Silver-made Rath
Ludhiana, February 4, 2013: Shivratri Mahotsva Committee, Shiv Mandir Gaughat, Gaushala Road, Ludhiana is to take out 26th Shobha Yatra on March 9.
The Shobha Yatra is being taken out in connection with Mahashivratri on March 10.
The Shobha Yatra led by Swami Nigambodh Tirath Maharaj (Ved Mandir) will begin from Shree Ramlila Maidan Daresi at 12 pm on March 9. It will conclude at Gaughat Mandir after passing through different city areas, including Ved Mandir, Sita Mata Mandir, Partap Bazar, Meena Bazar Chowk, Mata Rani Chowk, Clock Tower, Chaura Bazar, Ghaas Mandi Chowk , Vaishno Devi Chowk, Shivala Road and Gaushala Road. On the way, it will reach at Shivala Sangla Mandir for Mahaaarti.
The managing committee of Shobha Yatra included president Sunil Mehra, chairman, Charanjit Bhargav, chief advisor Prem Gupta, chief patron Kasturi Lal Mittal, senior vice president Uma Dutt Sharma, general secretary Ashwani Mahajan and cashier Mohinder Aggarwal.
About Shobha Yatra:
It was about 25 years ago when there prevailed militancy in Punjab. People were terrorised. They were unable to continue their activities late in the evening due to the terror by militants. At that time, Sunil Mehra, Prem Gupta, Late Om Parkash Aggarwal, Late Lala Hari Chand Aggarwal, Late Mahinder Pal Gupta, Kasturi Lal Mittal, Sanjay Gautam, Charanjit Bhargav, Ashwani Kharbanda, Ashok Jain and other religious lovers discussed and decided to take out a massive shobha yatra on the occasion of Mahashivratri for building confidence among people and also to pray to Mahadev to return peace and prosperity in Punjab. They took an oath that if Mahadev accepted their prayer then they would got built a silver-made Rath carrying Shivling and Shivparivar and keep on worshipping it.
Lord Shiva accepted the prayer and peace and prosperity returned to Punjab in the year 1992 following which His devotees fulfilled their promise and build Panchmukhi Shivling and silver –made Rath (see picture) in the year 2001. Later, Nandi and Shivparivar (silver-made) were also placed on the Rath.