PRAYAGRAJ: On Sunday, the city reverberated with chants of “Jai Shri Ram” and “Siyavar Ramchandra Ki Jai” as grand religious processions – the Ramdal in Civil Lines and the Hanumandal in Daraganj – filled the streets with faith, color, and cultural vibrancy.
The Ramdal Procession in Civil Lines
The Ramdal procession, organized jointly by the Ramdal Nyaya Marg Committee and the Civil Lines Vyapar Mandal, began with solemn rituals at the Nyayavid Hanuman Temple located near the Allahabad High Court.
Here, Justice Sanjay Kumar Singh, local corporator Pankaj Jaiswal, and Mandal President Neeraj Jaiswal, along with several dignitaries, performed a ceremonial Aarti of Lord Shri Ram.
Following the worship, idols of Lord Ram and Lakshman were gracefully placed upon a decorated palanquin, marking the formal commencement of the Ramdal procession.
As the procession advanced, Subhash Crossing became a focal point where Commissioner Soumya Agarwal and District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma joined the devotees, performing Aarti and offering prayers.
In front of Tulsiyani Plaza, the spiritual atmosphere intensified as 108 oil lamps were lit for a magnificent Aarti, while devotional songs performed from a stage filled the air with energy and reverence. The gathered crowd swayed in devotion, immersed in the bhakti-filled melodies.
Adding further grandeur, the Women’s Vyapar Mandal presented captivating stage performances, including the powerful Shiv Tandav and the dramatic enactment of Mahishasura Mardini, which drew rapt attention from the spectators.
The procession wound its way past Hanuman Temple, Bishop Johnson School, and Subhash Crossing, before turning towards Bina Motors via Hot Stuff Crossing, finally concluding late at night at the Civil Lines Bus Depot.
The event drew the presence of several public representatives and community leaders, including MP Praveen Patel, MLAs Harshvardhan Bajpai and Deepak Patel, Mayor Ganesh Kesarwani, along with business and social leaders such as Sushil Kharbanda, Shiv Shankar Singh, Ashish Arora, Ritesh Singh, Sanjeev Agarwal, Avantika Tandon, Swati Nirkhi, Raghunath Dwivedi, Bablu Raghuvanshi, and Dr. Prabhakar Dwivedi.
The Hanumandal in Daraganj
Meanwhile, in Daraganj, the Shri Daraganj Ramleela Committee organized the equally majestic Hanumandal procession. The journey began at the residence of Pt. Satya Narayan Pathak, near the Bakshi Police Outpost, where Committee President Kullu Yadav, General Secretary Jitendra Gaur, MLA Harshvardhan Bajpai, Mayor Ganesh Kesarwani, and local corporator Anupama Pandey led the ceremonial worship and Aarti of Lord Shri Ram before flagging off the procession.
At the forefront of the Hanumandal marched an awe-inspiring 11-foot idol of Lord Hanuman, depicted in a benevolent blessing posture. Behind it trailed colorful banners, fluttering flags, and devotional music played on DJ bands, amplifying the festive spirit.
The procession also showcased vibrant tableaux depicting significant episodes from Hindu mythology. Among them were the Agni Pariksha of Sita, the dialogue with Kevat, the slaying of Mahishasura, the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva (Shiv Tandav), the redemption of Ahilya, and devotional tableaux dedicated to Khatu Shyam, each leaving the audience spellbound.
The Hanumandal traveled through Nirala Marg, GT Road, and Fort Road Crossing, before retracing its path via Dr. Prabhat Shastri Marg and Kacchi Sadak, concluding late into the night.
Adding to the devotional grandeur, the route from Ganga Bhavan to Daraganj Kotwali and along the Pakka Sadak was beautifully decorated with dazzling lights. Even after the procession passed Prayagraj Sangam railway station, loudspeaker competitions among groups continued deep into the night, reflecting the city’s unyielding festive spirit.
Among those who participated prominently in the procession were Rajendra Paliwal, Pt. Dhruv Narayan Shukla, Kishan Chaurasia, Arvind Pandey, Hiralal Yadav, Vijay Sonkar, and Raja Mishra.
A City Immersed in Devotion
The simultaneous celebration of Ramdal and Hanumandal not only brought alive the religious and cultural traditions of Prayagraj but also reaffirmed the city’s spiritual heartbeat. With hymns, rituals, performances, and glittering processions, the events highlighted the enduring devotion of the people towards Lord Ram and Lord Hanuman.
Commissioner Soumya Agarwal and District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma participated in the Aarti ceremony.
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