Nagpur: Thousands of followers of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and prominent political figures thronged Deekshabhoomi to celebrate his 133rd birth anniversary on Sunday. The pleasant morning, a welcome change from the recent rainy days, saw devotees pouring in right from the crack of dawn.
The crowd grew through the afternoon, reaching a peak by evening. The entire Deekshabhoomi complex was a vibrant tapestry of blue flags, reflecting the immense respect for the Architect of the Indian Constitution.
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Saturday 23 Nov. 2024
Big names from the political arena, like Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and NCP (Sharad Pawar) State President Jayant Patil, marked their presence at Deekshabhoomi.
However, they steered clear of election-related rhetoric. Instead, their focus remained firmly on Dr Ambedkar’s legacy.
While some attendees expressed minor inconveniences caused by ongoing construction work at Deekshabhoomi, the overall mood was celebratory. The upcoming developments were seen as a positive step towards enhancing the memorial site.
Beyond Deekshabhoomi, the spirit of Dr Ambedkar Jayanti resonated across Nagpur. Gadkari, former minister Sulekha Kumbhare and many Republican leaders garlanded Dr Ambedkar’s statue at Samvidhan Square.
Statues of Dr Ambedkar across the city were adorned with garlands, key locations were decorated, and free distribution of food and ice cream at hundreds of stalls kept the energy levels high. Cake-cutting ceremonies added a touch of festivity to the day followed by DJ music and bursting of firecrackers.
As evening fell, vibrant rallies criss-crossed their way through different parts of the city, culminating in a grand congregation at Samvidhan Chowk (RBI Square) , complete with a dazzling laser show.
Earlier a mashal march led by Bhante Suruei Sasai reached the Samvidhan Square where youth in large numbers had already assembled. Accompanied with music, people paid homage to Dr Ambedkar recalling his stellar contributions in uplift of downtrodden.
At Deekshabhoomi, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Smarak Samiti made elaborate arrangements along with city police to ensure people visit the dome hassle-free and pay respects to Dr Ambedkar.
A scooter rally was taken out from West Nagpur and it passed through various thoroughfares before culminating at Samvidhan Square. At Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), Municipal Commissioner and Administrator Dr Abhijeet Chaudhari led the employees in paying respects to a life size photo of Dr Ambedkar.
