‘Ram Baraat’ To Commence From Ayodhya To Janakpur In Nepal On 21 November; To Be Grander Post Ayodhya Verdict

The annual Ram Baraat will be taken from Ayodhya to Janakpur in Nepal on 21 November. The celebrations, this year, will be on a much higher scale, primarily, because of the Supreme Court verdict that has permitted construction of Ram temple on Ram Janambhoomi site.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), which organises the event, will be taking the deity's baraat (marriage procession) from Ayodhya to Janakpur (Nepal) with two decorated rath (chariots), along with youths dressed up as Ram, Bharat, and Laxman.

About 200 men, including seers, in two dozen cars and a bus, will set out on 21 November from Ayodhya and reach Janakpur on 28 November, believed to be the hometown of Lord Ram's wife Goddess Sita. More people are likely to join the procession along the route.

No women will be allowed to join the baraat, as per ancient customs.

The baraat will move through Ghazipur, Chhapra, Patna, and Sitamarhi and will halt at a few places.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath have been invited to attend the marriage in Janakpur on 1 December," said VHP spokesperson Sharad Sharma.

The royal family of Nepal are also among the invitees.

The event is being organised under the banner of the Dharmyatra Mahasangh, an outfit set up by the VHP for organising religious trips in 2002.

The then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was one of its patrons.

The baraat will stay at Sita's hometown for three days, a custom which prevailed among north Indian Hindus till a few decades ago.

Lodges and hotels for over 400 guests have already been booked in Nepal, according to VHP leaders.

The Tilakotsav will be held on 29 November at the Dashrath Temple of Janakpur. Kanya pujan is slated for 30 November, followed by Ramlila, Dhanush Yagya and Jaimala on 1 December.

Kalewa is on 2 December after which the baraat will proceed on its return journey via Gorakhpur and is expected to reach Ayodhya on 3 December.

The first baraat was taken out in 2004 and has become an annual ritual since then.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)