Ram Navami was celebrated across the country on Thursday with grand processions and special pujas, but the festivities were marred by the death of 11 devotees in Madhya Pradesh as they fell into a well, and violence and arson in West Bengal and Maharashtra. In Delhi, a large number of people defied a police order and took out a procession in Jahangirpuri, which witnessed riots last year during Hanuman Jayanti celebrations, while stones were pelted at two marches in Gujarat’s Vadodara too. The celebrations remained largely incident-free in the rest of the country with people coming out on the streets with religious fervour and enthusiasm and law-enforcement agencies on the watch.
President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished people on the auspicious occasion.
“‘Maryada Purushottam’ Lord Ram’s life was based on sacrifice, tapasya, restraint and resolve,” Modi tweeted.
