Mumbai/Surat, April 2 (IANS) A 15-foot sand sculpture of Lord Hanuman and a 7,000 kg ‘laddu’ were among the highlights as the country, on Thursday, celebrated Hanuman Jayanti. People, in various parts of the country, visited temples in large number to offer prayers to Lord Hanuman.

At Juhu Beach in Mumbai, sand artist Laxmi Gaud created a 15-foot sand sculpture of Lord Hanuman.

“Every year I make small sand sculptures of Lord Hanuman on Hanuman Jayanti, but this year I have made a big one. It took me 15 hours to make this. We started yesterday afternoon, at 2 p.m., and finished in the morning, at 5 a.m.,” she told IANS.

She added, “We used a JCB machine to collect the sand and started creating the sculpture from the face. We have used rangoli colours for painting this.”

Gaud also mentioned about her devotion for Lord Ram, who, according to Hindu mythology, was worshipped by Lord Hanuman.

She said, “Since Lord Hanuman was the biggest devotee of Lord Ram, I believe that by making a sculpture of him today, we prayed to Lord Ram also. People everywhere are celebrating Hanuman Jayanti today just as Ram Navami was also celebrated (few days back).”

“On this auspicious day, I pray that peace prevails in the country and for the war (West Asia conflict) to stop,” she added.

Meanwhile, devotees gathered to offer prayers at Pardeshwar Mahadev Temple in Atal Ashram, situated in Gujarat’s Surat.

Mahant Batukgiri Maharaj of the ashram, said that a giant, 7,000 kg ‘laddu’ was prepared and offered to Lord Hanuman on the occasion of the festival.

“We have offered a ‘laddu’ weighing 7,000 kg to Lord Hanuman. The work to prepare the laddu began from 10 a.m. on March 30 and was completed by midnight on April 1,” he told IANS.

He also said, “We should all remember that this celebration to mark Lord Hanuman’s birth has been arranged by Lord Hanuman himself. Not me, neither by any other devotee. Whatever material has been used in the making of this ‘laddu’ has been sent by the Lord himself. Let us all celebrate this occasion together and keep our faith and devotion on Lord Hanuman.”

“This laddu is distributed as ‘prasad’ among the devotees. Moreover, we have also made arrangements for food and ‘prasad’ for around 30,000 to 40,000 people,” Mahant Batukgiri Maharaj added.

Riddhi Raval, who is an actress by profession and came to seek blessings at the temple, said, “I urge everyone to come here and experience the devotion of this place as well as have the ‘prasad’, which is a 7,000 kg ‘laddu’.”

Another devotee added, “Lord Hanuman is ‘sankat mochan’ (reliever of troubles). I pray that may everyone be relived of their troubles and I also pray for peace and happiness in the country.”

–IANS

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