Pawan Khera and Manish Khanduri
“We’ve been welcomed everywhere we go”, says Yatri Chauleshwar Chandrarkar, “As we carry the Yatra’s message of tolerance and respect.” That was very obvious today as the #BharatJodoYatra arrived at the end of it’s evening session, to be welcomed by a huge waiting crowd of men, women, children and elders at Ghosla fata.
Yatri Chauleshwar Chandrakar (centre, white T shirt): “We’ve been welcomed everywhere we go”
This evening walk, that started at Ghatiya, was ‘barely’ 8 kilometres. For the road hardened Yatris, by now that’s a blink-and-you-miss-it moment. It was, as has been the case the past few days, mostly through rural farming areas, with only the ocasional small village along the way.
While there obviously were Congress cadres to support the Yatris, it was heartening that as always there was a highway organic component to the crowds- people who had come of their own accord to participate. People like Yuvraj Singh who had been waiting for two hours for the Yatris to arrive. “It’s a fantastic occasion,” he said, “And we are very happy that the Yatra is coming this way.”
Yuvraj Singh (front) had been waiting for two hours for the yatris to arrive. “It’s a fantastic occasion” he said.
Or even those younger like Rehan and his friends who had probably come there for a good time and were clearly enjoying themselves. Rehan told us that he had come from his home with his friends.
Rehan (front, hooded jacket, holding flag) and his friends are having an exciting time watching the Yatra
Joining the Yatris and Rahul Gandhi in the evening walk were a number of representatives from the National Campaign for Dignity and Survival, and also Gandhian Anil Trivedi.
We also want to congratulate Assam PCC as they go into the 31st day of the #BharatJodoYatraAssam. The Yatra in Assam is certainly attracting great public interest and participation.
Currently in the state of Madhya Pradesh, the Bharat Jodo Yatra is a five month, 3500 kilometre long Padyatra from Kanyakumari in the South of India to Kashmir up in the North. It is part of the party’s national mass outreach program aimed at highlighting social polarisation, economic inequalities and political centralisation.
Waiting crowds at Ghosla
Photo credit for today’s photos: Ajay Thakur
Ground research: Aparna Ashwarya (INC Communications Department research team)
End of Day Travel Facts
1. District names: Ujjain
2. Ujjain district is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in India. The famous Mahakaleshwar temple is located in Ujjain city and has one of the 12 jyotirlingas in India.
3. Another important site is Ram-Janardan mandir.
4. Great works on astronomy such as the Surya Siddhanta and the Panch Siddhanta were written in Ujjain.
5. Ujjain district is home to Ujjain town, one of the Hindu pilgrimage centres famous for the Kumbh mela.
6. The district has one of the largest viscose staple fiber manufacturers in Asia.
7. The city is the birthplace of great national poet Kavi Pradeep.
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