DH NEWS SERVICE
jammu, Mar 31
The Kashmiri Pandit community celebrated the sacred festival of Zangtrai with immense devotion and enthusiasm at Bhagawaan Gopinathji Ashram, Udaiwala, Bohri, Jammu. Observed on March 31, 2025, this auspicious day holds great spiritual and cultural significance, especially for Kashmiri Pandit women, who consider it a day of renewal and divine blessings.
The event commenced with a traditional lighting of the Jyoti and offering of flowers at the sacred photograph of Bhagawaan Gopinathji, placed on a beautifully decorated platform in the lush green Vatika of the Ashram. This was followed by a soulful Guru-Vandana, setting the tone for a day filled with spiritual reverence.
Dr. Opindra Krishen Bhat, who played a pivotal role in organizing the event, introduced the Chief Guest, Smt. Anapurna Langoo. To honor her presence, she was presented with a traditional shawl by Ms. Jai Kishori Patwari and the Secretary of Bhagawaan Gopinathji Trust.
The event saw the enthusiastic participation of hundreds of Kashmiri Pandit women, who thronged the Ashram throughout the day, paying their obeisance at the lotus feet of Bhagawaanji. The Trust exhorted the gathering to imbibe the teachings of Bhagawaanji, emphasizing the importance of living by his principles in letter and spirit.
A special musical session was conducted, where renowned artists including Smt. Kailash Mehra, Sh. Shanti Lal Sid, Sh. Ravi Bhan, and others presented melodious devotional songs. Their performances captivated the gathering, and each artist was greeted with thunderous applause at the end of their soulful renditions. The atmosphere was filled with divine energy, as devotees immersed themselves in the devotional melodies.
A significant ritual of the festival was the distribution of small packets of salt and Rs. 5/- each among the women, considered a token of love and Prasad from Bhagawaanji. This sacred tradition symbolizes prosperity and divine blessings for the recipients. The participants left the premises with joy and a sense of spiritual fulfillment, cherishing the warmth and blessings of the day.
To add to the celebratory spirit, all attendees were served tea and kulcha, a gesture that further strengthened the sense of community and shared devotion.
The festival was not limited to Jammu alone but was simultaneously observed at various other centers of the Bhagawaan Gopinathji Trust across the country. Devotees in Pamposh Enclave (New Delhi), Vikaspuri (West Delhi), Kharyar (Srinagar, Kashmir), Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, and at various Satsang Mandals nationwide also participated in the celebrations, upholding the rich traditions of the Kashmiri Pandit community.
The grand celebration of Zangtrai at Bhagawaan Gopinathji Ashram once again reinforced the deep spiritual roots and unwavering faith of the community, making it a truly memorable occasion.
