Sambhal,

12 April (HS): A big Hanuman Jayanti parade was held Saturday in this city,

which was hit by communal violence last year.

The procession was led out of the Shri Bala Ji Temple in Hallu Sarai

under strict security, with cries of Jai Bajrangbali booming across

the town as it passed through many neighborhoods. A series of devotional activities began early

this morning at the Shri Bala Ji Temple in Hallu Sarai. Security was obviously

tight, with police and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) soldiers stationed

across the city and along the procession route.

Nitesh

Chandra, trustee of the Shri Bala Ji Temple, stated, The procession began

at Hallu Sarai and traveled across the town. Lord Hanuman was dressed in a

sacred garment in the morning, and aarti, havan, and devotional chanting were

performed thereafter. A night vigil

(jagran) will take place tonight, and a community feast is planned for

tomorrow. On November 24, the city exploded into violence during a

court-ordered examination of a mosque in the Kot Garvi neighborhood. The battle resulted in four deaths and

hundreds more injuries. The assessment was ordered in response to a petition

claiming that the mosque stood on the site of a destroyed Hindu temple. Since the tragedy, Sambhal has been seething

with community anger.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi