Goshamahal turns saffron as Sri Rama Navami Shobha Yatra draws huge crowd

Saffron flags, buntings and banners were seen in the dingy lanes of Dhoolpet, Mangalhat, Begum Bazar, Gowliguda and Koti extending Sri Rama Navami festival greetings to the people. Smearing sandalwood paste on their foreheads and clad in saffron attire, a large number of people attended the yatra, which started from Aakashpuri Hanuman Temple in Dhoolpet in the afternoon, dancing to pulsating drum beats.

The main attraction of the yatra was the idols of Lord Srirama, Sri Hanuman and the legendary warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Several youth were seen waving saffron flags in front of the procession. The lanes and bylanes connecting Upper Dhoolpet, Mangalhat, Begum Bazar and Goshmahal were packed with devotees who arrived from different parts of the city to take part in the yatra.

Several voluntary associations’ distributed free water sachets, chilled juice, and lemon rice bringing much needed relief for devotees. The yatra that started from Aakashpuri Hanuman Temple passed through the main thoroughfares of Anita Tower, Puranapool Gandhi Statue, Jummerat Bazar, Chudi Bazar, Begum Bazar Chatri, Swastik Mirchi, Begum Bazar, Siddiambar Bazar Masjid, Gowliguda Gurudwara, Koti Women's College and Sulthan Bazar.

The yatra will conclude with a meeting public at Hanuman Vyayamshala in Ramkote in the late evening. On their part, the Hyderabad police made elaborate security arrangements for the smooth conduct of the yatra. As many as 20,000 people were deployed for the yatra. All the officers in Hyderabad police commissionerate were deputed at the strategic locations all along the yatra route.

Senior officers monitored the yatra from integrated command and control centre through surveillance cameras.