Ujjain: An invitation to Simhastha, on marriage cards

Madhya Pradesh government’s drive asking residents of Ujjain to consider the Simhastha fair as their very own festival and actively participate in hosting the visiting pilgrims seems to have struck a chord.

Madhya Pradesh government’s drive asking residents of Ujjain to consider the Simhastha fair as their very own festival and actively participate in hosting the visiting pilgrims seems to have struck a chord.

A marriage card used to highlight information on Simhastha. (HT photo)

Many families are now publicizing the dates of holy baths during the Simhastha in marriage cards.

Simhastha mela or fair is a festival which occurs every 12 years in Ujjain where millions of devotees come to the city to take a bath in the waters of the holy river Kshipra.

The marriage of the son of Dwarkadish Choudhary, a lawyer, is going to take place next week. Besides inviting guests for the function, he got the lines on Simhastha fair printed in card.

While visiting relatives outside the city, Choudhary did not forget to appraise them about the pious festival of Simhastha and asked them to visit the city during the fair.

“We feel proud that Simhastha happens in our city and will be happy to welcome people and play a host’s role, Choudhary said, and added that it’s not a government event, but our own.

His brother Aman said relatives at far places like Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad got surprised when they got the cards and said that they came across the dates of Simhastha through his invitations only.

Not only this, traders at several business hubs including Tower Chowk, Daulatganj, Chatri chowk have put new sign boards of pleading for ‘Green Simhastha- Clean Simhastha’ and welcoming people to have a visit.

The state government too is taking the Simhastha as an opportunity to attract people from across the globe as different summits are being organised at Bhopal, Indore and other parts of the state.

Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan during a function here two days back expressed that the government wishes for higher turnout of pilgrims and mass publicity campaign has been undertaken.

Divisional commissioner Ravindra Pastore said it is good that citizens are coming forward to play a role in serving the devotees and the administration has decided to acknowledge the participation in Kshipra cleaning drive.