The dingy lanes and streets of Dhoolpet, Mangalhat, Begum Bazaar and other localities were decked with saffron flags, banners and buntings as thousands of devotees participated in the ‘shobha yatra' organised in connection with Sri Ramanavami in the State capital on Sunday.
The yatra passed off peacefully amid tight security.
Donning saffron caps, ‘kurtas' and scarves, youngsters led the yatra on bikes from Rani Avanthi Bai Hall in Dhoolpet, where it commenced.
TDP Corporator Raja Singh organised the yatra in coordination with the Sri Rama Utsav Samithi.
The rally passed through the main thoroughfares of Mangalhat, Jummerat Bazaar, Begum Bazaar Chatri, Siddiam Bazaar, Gowliguda and culminated at Hanuman Vyayamshala, Koti.
Slogans
Right from dawn, the streets reverberated with “Jai Sri Ram” slogans with many youth welfare organisations playing devotional songs through music systems. Free food distribution programmes and special ‘bhajans' were also organised all along the procession route.
A 10-foot high Lord Sri Rama idol was prepared for the occasion and it turned out to be the cynosure of all eyes at the event.
Special pujas were performed to the idol, which was placed in a well-decorated vehicle.
As the yatra entered different residential colonies, residents welcomed it by showering flower petals on the idol.
Residents of Begum Bazaar performed the traditional “Chatri” dance holding colourful umbrellas.
Youngsters from other parts of the city too took out motorcycle rallies to join the yatra at Dhoolpet.
Traffic diverted
“We are organising the yatra for past three years successfully to celebrate Sri Ramanavami on a grand note. It also enables us to unite everyone,” Mr. Raja Singh said. He said elaborate arrangements were made to prevent any inconvenience to devotees. All through the rally, police were on tenterhooks and a team led by the DCP (West) Stephen Ravindra coordinated with organisers to cross Jummerat Bazaar by evening. Additional Commissioner of Police (Coordination) Amit Garg supervised the security arrangements.
Traffic police also diverted vehicles through alternative routes to ensure smooth conduct of the religious rally. Barricades were placed in the lanes connecting main roads to restrict entry of other vehicles.
By 10 p.m., the rally reached Hanuman Vyayamshala, Koti, when the police breathed easy.
