- The foot devotees received a grand welcome at Shri Darbar Sahib with flower showers and resounding chants of Shri Guru Ram Rai Ji Maharaj.
- Under the leadership of Shri Mahant Devendra Dass Ji Maharaj, the Mela Organizing Committee and residents of Doon extended a warm reception.
A group of 150 foot pilgrims from various parts of Punjab arrived at Shri Darbar Sahib on Sunday evening. At 5:00 PM, as the devotees reached the main Darshani Gate of Shri Darbar Sahib, Dehradun, they were warmly welcomed by the residents of Doon, the Darbar Shri Guru Ram Rai Ji Maharaj Management Committee, and the Shri Jhande Ji Mela Organizing Committee with flower showers and the rhythmic beats of drums.
At the Darshani Gate and within the premises of Shri Darbar Sahib, the devotees were grandly received amidst flower showers under the leadership of the Sajjadanasheen of Shri Darbar Sahib, Shri Mahant Devendra Dass Ji Maharaj. Shri Maharaj Ji blessed the devotees with his divine presence and bestowed his blessings upon them. The entire premises of Shri Darbar Sahib and the surrounding areas echoed with thunderous chants in praise of Shri Guru Ram Rai Ji Maharaj.
Mela Officer Vijay Gulati informed that, as every year, the foot pilgrims from Punjab have arrived at Shri Darbar Sahib to witness the Shri Jhande Ji hoisting ceremony and the fair. With their arrival, the divinity and grandeur of the Shri Jhande Ji Mela have been further enhanced. On Sunday evening, the devotees danced enthusiastically to the beats of drums and sang hymns glorifying Shri Guru Ram Rai Ji Maharaj.
On behalf of the Shri Darbar Sahib management, the devotees were welcomed earlier at 3:15 PM at Primary School, Kanwali. Later, at 5:00 PM, under the leadership of Shri Mahant Devendra Das Ji Maharaj, they were given a grand welcome at the Darshani Gate and within the premises of Shri Darbar Sahib. Students of Shri Guru Ram Rai Laxman Sanskrit Mahavidyalaya welcomed the foot pilgrims with Vedic chants. The arrival of the devotees has added great vibrancy to Shri Darbar Sahib.
From Wednesday onwards, the arrival of devotees from across the country and abroad has begun at Shri Darbar Sahib. All necessary arrangements for devotees and pilgrims have been completed. As per tradition, the eastern devotees will be ceremonially bid farewell on 7th March. On 8th March, with the hoisting of Shri Jhande Ji, this year’s Shri Jhande Ji Mela will officially commence.