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

    NASA Funds Videos On Indian Historical Sites, Lesson Plans In Hindi

    The videos funded by NASA to focus on scientific innovations at various sites like Amer Fort palace and Hawa Mahal in Jaipur, the rust-resistant Iron Pillar of Delhi, UNESCO Heritage site Qutub Minar, the Chand Baori step well and headquarters of the Jaipur Foot.  

    NASA Funds Videos On Indian Historical Sites, Lesson Plans In Hindi

    'Jai Bheem, Jai Meem, Takbeer Allahu Akbar, Jai Hind': Owaisi Responds To Jai Shri Ram During Oath-Taking

    Asaduddin Owaisi was re-elected to the Lok Sabha from the Hyderabad seat for a fourth consecutive term in the recently concluded general elections.  

    'Jai Bheem, Jai Meem, Takbeer Allahu Akbar, Jai Hind': Owaisi Responds To Jai Shri Ram During Oath-Taking

    Soon, Need Not Be 8th Pass To Apply For A Driving Licence In India

    Soon, Need Not Be 8th Pass To Apply For A Driving Licence In India
    The removal of the requirement will open up employment opportunities for a large number of unemployed persons, according to an official statement.  

    Soon, Need Not Be 8th Pass To Apply For A Driving Licence In India

    Man Allegedly Kills Mother-In-Law After Argument In Delhi's Rohini

    Man Allegedly Kills Mother-In-Law After Argument In Delhi's Rohini
    The man allegedly hit his mother-in-law with the iron rod that was lying on the ground which injured her on her head.  

    Man Allegedly Kills Mother-In-Law After Argument In Delhi's Rohini

    34 Pakistani Migrants In Rajasthan Granted Indian Citizenship

    Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Rajeeva Swarup said 34 migrants have been granted Indian citizenship in June 2019.

    34 Pakistani Migrants In Rajasthan Granted Indian Citizenship

    'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', 'Jai Shri Ram' Slogans As Lawmakers Take Oath

    Taking a dig, Congress President Rahul Gandhi asked BJP's Arun Kumar Sagar, who chanted "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" twice, to raise the slogan "one more time".  

    'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', 'Jai Shri Ram' Slogans As Lawmakers Take Oath