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Indore celebrates 201st Ahilya Utsav

     Indore (Madhya Pradesh): Indore,the throbbing, vibrant city coloured by its brave past celebrated the 201st death anniversary of Rani Ahilyabai.The festival was celebrated on a grand scale.Every year the festival is celebrated with great pomp and show.The spirit of the age old festival continues even today. People of all age groups participated in the festival enthusiastically.The festival is an inseparable part of Indore's culture. "People of Indore are highly devoted to Rani Ahilyabai.They participated in the festival with great enthusiasm.It depicts our culture," said Sudhir Dherge, Publicity Incharge. The huge crowd was following the palanquin carrying the portrait of Rani Ahilya Bai.It was spectacularly decorated with flowers and the devotees were offering unending prayers to her. Ahilyabai's administration was flawless.She was able to make her mark in a patriarchal society where a woman ruler is just next to impossible. "She was a great administrator of her times and worked hard for the social reforms.Indore is unanimously celebrating the festival every year.The pallenquin of Ahilyabai is taken out in procession every year with great enthusiasm," said Sumitra Mahajan ,Former Minister of State. Even the youth of the city participated in the age old tradition of the city.They were dressed up like kings and emperors of the past.People were raising slogans in praise of Ahilyabai. The city of Indore has placed her on the highest pedestal ,that is of a mother.Ahilyabai, who was revered because of her benevolent deeds is also remembered as 'Lokmata'.Throughout the city, there was energy and exhilaration. Whole city took up on streets during the celebration.Vibrantly decorated horses, in large number formed an inseparable part of the festival.The festival was joined by various groups, reciting bhajans and prayers.The procession lasted for three hours.
-Sept 3, 2005