8 injured as flag mast of Jhande Ji falls on devotees
At the last moment of flag mounting at Dehradun’s historic Jhande Ji fair on Friday, the 105 feet high flag mast fell on the devotees. In which eight devotees were injured. Two hours after the incident, the flag was again mounted at about seven in the evening with worship and reverence.
On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Sri Guru Ram Rai in the Darbar Sahib premises, the old flag was lifted from Jhanda Sahib and the new flag was offered in the presence of thousands of devotees. After this, the new flag was given a bath with milk, curd, butter, sugar and panchamrit. Devotees were vying for bathing of Jhanda Sahib. Everyone was desperate to touch the sacred flag. Earlier, devotees worshiped Jhanda Sahib from 12:30 pm. After this, the process of hoisting the flag started.
First 40 plain flags made of Markin were offered. After this, 20 plain flags made of velvet fabric were offered to Sahib. The outermost cover of the flag was covered with a velvet cloth at the end. Shrimant Devendra Das instructed the Sangathas to start flag raising after rituals. The flag ascension started at two o’clock in the afternoon. With the help of four wooden canes and four thick ropes, as the 105 feet high flag started to rise, Guru Ram Rai Maharaj’s chants started to echo around. Meanwhile, at the last moment the flag mast was broken and fell on the Sangat. Due to which there was chaos in the Sangatas. On the occasion, Srimanta Devendra Das instructed to send the injured to Indiresh Hospital for treatment while handling the situation.
The highest flag ever was this time
Bhupendra Raturi, senior public relations officer of Darbar Sahib Management, said that the flag is changed every year. This time the flag is being mounted on the highest mast so far at 105 feet tall. But at the last moment due to heavy rains and broken wooden the flag mast fell on the devotees.
Hoisting of flag was resumed after about two hours
Two hours after the flag was broken, the flag was resurrected after duly worshiped again in the presence of Sajjadanshin Shrimhant Devendra Das Maharaj of Darbar Sahib.
