People celebrate Ram Navami amid heavy security across state

RANCHI: Ram Navami was celebrated across Jharkhand on Wednesday amid heavy security.

Long queues were seen outside temples across the state since the morning, while processions were taken out in many areas. Several roads were decked up with saffron flags that had pictures of Lord Ram and Lord Hanuman. Besides the rituals, Hanuman Chalisa and Ramcharitmanas were recited at many temples.

Chief minister Champai Soren visited the Ram Janki Tapovan temple in Ranchi and prayed.

“I extend my best wishes to the people of the state on the occasion of Ram Navami. We should follow the ideals of Lord Rama and develop the society,” he told reporters.

Governor CP Radhakrishnan extended his greetings on the occasion.

“The life of Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram is a source of inspiration for the entire human race,” he posted on X in Hindi.

Thousands of people representing different akharas took out processions in different parts of the state with traditional weapons.

More than 4,700 akharas took out such processions across Jharkhand, according to police.

In Ranchi, the processions from different parts of the city culminated at the Tapovan temple. Security was beefed up across the state with heavy deployment of police personnel.

Meanwhile, A 17-year-old girl was killed and 24 people were injured after a pick-van carrying a generator set and soundbox overturned on a Ram Navami procession in Jharkhand’s Lohardaga district on Wednesday, police said.

The incident happened near Rana Chowk in Lohardaga town, they said.