Close X
Thursday, October 31, 2024
ADVT 
India

Nusrat Jahan Accepts Invitation For ISKCON 'Rath Yatra' Inauguration

Darpan News Desk IANS, 02 Jul, 2019 08:42 PM

    Newly-elected Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha lawmaker and actor Nusrat Jahan whose stand on religion and inclusiveness is "in sync" with ISKCON's spirit of "social harmony", has been invited as a special guest at the inauguration ceremony of the Kolkata ISKCON Ratha yatra on Thursday.


    Thanking the actor for accepting the invitation, an ISKCON official said, she was "really showing the road forward".


    The 48th edition of the Ratha yatra organised by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) since 1971, will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.


    Ms Jahan, who got married to a Kolkata-based businessman and was heavily trolled for wearing vermilion and sporting a ''mangalsutra'' at her oath-taking ceremony, had said she represents an "inclusive India... which is beyond the barriers of caste, creed and religion."


    The actor and her husband will be present at the inauguration ceremony along with other film stars.


    "Thank you @nusratchirps for accepting the Ratha yatra invitation. You are really showing the road forward," Radharaman Das, ISKCON spokesperson tweeted.


    "Iskcon Kolkata Ratha yatra is example of that social harmony where the Lord's chariots are also built by our Muslim brothers. Some of the most beautiful Lords dresses are also made by our Muslim brothers & they are doing it for decades in some of our temples," Mr Das said.


    In a video released on Monday evening, the actor congratulated ISKCON for organising the Ratha yatra and asked the residents of the city to join her at the inauguration and be with her through the celebrations.


    Refusing to toe the line of hardline Muslim clerics who had criticised her, the first-time lawmaker from West Bengal's Basirhat had said, "... I still remain a Muslim... And none should comment on what I choose to wear... Faith is beyond attire."


    A section of Deoband-based clerics have reportedly issued a ''fatwa'' (diktat) against the Trinamool Congress lawmaker.


    This year's yatra will highlight the condition of senior citizens who spend their lives away from family members at old age homes, Mr Das said.


    The Rathayatra is expected to attract lakhs of devotees who will pull the chariots of deities of Lord Jagannath, Balaram, and Subhadra on the occasion, he said.


    Starting from the city's Hungerford Street opposite the ISKCON temple at Albert Road, the yatra will move through important thoroughfares of the city to reach Brigade Parade Grounds, where arrangements have been made for the people to have a special darshan of Lord Jagannath till July 11.


    Groups of devotees from south India will be present in front of the three chariots to make street art with organic ''gulals''.


    Internationally famous ''kirtaniyas'' will render ''kirtans'' (devotional songs) to the accompaniment of drums and ''kartals'' (percussion instrument) during the yatra.


    The ''Ultaratha yatra'' will start on July 12 noon when the chariots will return to the Albert Road temple.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Will Work With Centre To Improve Delhi's Law And Order: Arvind Kejriwal

    Will Work With Centre To Improve Delhi's Law And Order: Arvind Kejriwal
    "We need to work together to improve the law and order situation in Delhi. The Delhi government has started installing CCTV cameras at a large scale," Arvind Kejriwal said

    Will Work With Centre To Improve Delhi's Law And Order: Arvind Kejriwal

    If Pak Has Closed Airspace, It's Their Problem: Air Force Chief BS Dhanoa

    Pakistan extended the ban on its airspace for all Indian flights till June 28. The country had fully shut its airspace on the eastern border with India after the IAF carried out aerial airstrikes on a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror camp in Balakot on February 26.

    If Pak Has Closed Airspace, It's Their Problem: Air Force Chief BS Dhanoa

    Delhi Man Found Guilty Of Violating Supreme Court Ban On Bursting Firecrackers

    Delhi Man Found Guilty Of Violating Supreme Court Ban On Bursting Firecrackers
    Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Jitendra Singh convicted Delhi resident Mayank Singh under Indian Penal Code Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant).  

    Delhi Man Found Guilty Of Violating Supreme Court Ban On Bursting Firecrackers

    BJP Leader Vijender Gupta's Wife Robbed In Delhi

    BJP Leader Vijender Gupta's Wife Robbed In Delhi
    According to Shobha Vijender, the incident took place at around 10.15 am on Monday near Mandi House.

    BJP Leader Vijender Gupta's Wife Robbed In Delhi

    Punjab Readies To Welcome Diaspora For 'Parkash Purab' of Guru Nanak Dev

    Punjab Readies To Welcome Diaspora For 'Parkash Purab' of Guru Nanak Dev
    The state government has initiated preparations on a mass scale, especially in the holy city of Sultanpur Lodhi where the first Sikh Guru had attained enlightenment and spent almost 17 years of his life.

    Punjab Readies To Welcome Diaspora For 'Parkash Purab' of Guru Nanak Dev

    International Yoga Day: 'Surya Namaskar' Poses Light Up UN Headquarters - WATCH

    On a foggy and rainy evening on Wednesday, yoga postures were projected on the North Facade of the UN Headquarters Building during a special ceremony attended by India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin  

    International Yoga Day: 'Surya Namaskar' Poses Light Up UN Headquarters - WATCH