Janmashtami celebrated with zeal across Gujarat

Janmashtami, the birth festival of Lord Krishna, was today celebrated across Gujarat with religious fervour and enthusiasm as lakhs of devotees visited temples to offer their obeisance.
Apart from ISKCON temples in Ahmedabad, Rajkot and several other cities of Gujarat, devotees in large numbers thronged the two main temples dedicated to Lord Krishna, one at Dwarka in Devbhoomi-Dwarka district and another at Dakor in Kheda district.
Since early morning, VIPs and common people flocked to the temples to offer prayers to the Lord and seek his blessings.
Chief Minister Vijay Rupani visited a temple in Bhadaj area in the outskirts of Ahmedabad, while his Deputy Nitin Patel performed 'aarti' at the ISCKON temple in the city.

Devotees celebrated the festival by participating in 'dahi handi' event, where people form a human pyramid to reach an earthen pot having buttermilk and strung at a height.
More than two lakh devotees visited the famous Dwarkadhish Temple at Dwarka, around 450 km from here.

Construction of a suspension bridge over Gomati river at Dwarka on lines of Lakshman Jhula in Rishikesh and inaugurated about three months ago facilitated the visit by such a huge number of devotees to the temple also known as Jagat Mandir.
The cable-stayed 166-metre-long pedestrian bridge, 'Sudama Setu', has come as a blessing for pilgrims, Parimal Nathwani, vice-chairman of the Dwarka Temple Management Committee said.

The bridge connects Jagat Mandir in mainland Dwarka with Panchnad Tirth (an island). Till now, pilgrims had been using boats to cross the river to reach Panchnad.