A fight to bring back the age old tradition continues for last 20 years
Priest of Shree Ranchodrai temple in Vadodara fight to bring back the age old tradition, Continues for last 20 years.
Its a fight with the administration started two decades ago and still continues until getting the desired result.
We are talking about the priest of famous historical Shree Ranchodrai temple in Vadodara who decided not to wear footwear till the administration allows to give 11 canon salute to the Ranchodrai procession. The age old tradition was stopped by the police in the year 1996 and since then the priest started the fight.
The famous Shree Ranchodrai temple in Vadodara is 170 years old and the priest Janardan Dave is fighting the lone battle with the administration. He said the procession of Lord Ranchodrai started on the day of Dev Ekadashi and since then the tradition continues but without the salute of 11 canons.
"The procession started on Dev Ekadashi and since then the Lord was given the 11 canon salute at Mandvi. 11th August 1996 City police administration put ban on the tradition of giving 11 canon salutes before the procession citing safety reasons. Since then the procession starts from Mandvi temple without the salute of canons. I put a petition in the court about restart the tradition again and the court also done the Panchnama and examine the canons," said Dave.
Dave further elaborated that in 1999 the court commission examined the canons and gave it's report to the police. "Court commission gave it's report to the police department and gave it's nod to the tradition of Canon Salute to the Lord procession. But the police department bypasses the court order and not allowed the canon use. Since then I decided on Dev Ekadashi that till the administration allowed to give the 11 canons salutes to the Lord procession I will not wear any footwear.
The priest of the Lord Ranchodrai temple is fighting the lone battle for last 20 years and wish to start the tradition again. "Since last three years there was no communication from the court and whenever I went to inquire about the case the court staff said they don't find the case and sent me back. But I will continue my fight," said Dave.
As Dave continues his fight he roam around with bare foot be it hot summer or rainy days for the last many years and decide not to wear any footwear till the administration allowed the tradition to restart again. "The court asked the police department to give the canons report but the department doesn’t give anything. I am ready for the renovation of the canons if any but the police department is not ready to give the reports. The canons are not to decimate anyone," said Dave.
150 grams Gun used in the canon for one blast which went up to only 35 foot. However the canons are not used now but the Lord Ranchodrai procession will start from the temple at 8pm on Friday. In the morning Shree Vitthalanath ji procession start from Mandvi.
