Adityanath attends Lord Ram’s symbolic wedding in Nepal
KATHMANDU/PATNA:Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday attended the symbolic wedding of Lord Rama with Sita and offered prayers at the famous Janaki temple in Nepal’s historic Janakpur city.
“It is my privilege to participate in ‘Vivah Panchami’ celebrations at Janakpur in Nepal... Nepal organised the celebrations on a grand scale where lakhs of people participated,” he told reporters after offering prayers at Mahavir Mandir in Patna.
The chief minister said with strengthened cultural ties, both India and Nepal can become partners in each other’s progress and development. Adityanath arrived in Patna on Wednesday from Janakpur. He called on his Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar at his official residence 1, Aney Marg, officials said. Adityanath also called on Bihar governor Lalji Tandon.
“UP CM Yogi Adityanath gave a courtesy call to Governor Lalji Tandon at Raj Bhavan here,” a Raj Bhavan release said.This is the first time Adityanath visited the Bihar capital after becoming UP CM, the release said.
Earlier, Adityanath arrived in Janakpur as head of the Indian delegation to participate in ‘Vivah Panchami’ celebrations. He was welcomed by chief minister of province 2 Mohammad Lalbabu Raut Gaddi at the airport.
Janakpur is known as the birth place of Sita. A massive Janaki temple was built in memory of Sita in 1910. The structure made entirely of stone and marble is 50-metre high and spread over 4,860 sq feet.
Adityanath went straight to Janaki temple from the airport. Janakpur city was decorated with colourful lights, paper flags and banners. Flowers were show- ered from a helicopter while Adityanath was offering prayers at the temple.
In the afternoon, he participated in Ram-Sita ‘Swayamvar’ and wedding ceremony at famous Rangabhoomi in Barah Bigha ground. The ‘Swayamvar’ is enacted every year on ‘Vivaha Panchami’ to commemorate Ram-Sita marriage. Both the chief ministers and mayor of Jankapur Lal Kishor Sah witnessed the rituals of ‘Vivah Panchami’.
Nepalese minister for tourism and culture Ravindra Adhikari and Indian Ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri were also present on the occasion. The ‘Vivah Panchami’ is celebrated in Janakpur every year to mark Ram-Sita’s marriage, which is a unique example of the centuries old strong ties between the people of Nepal and India.
According to the Ramayana, Lord Rama of Ayodhya had married Sita in Janakpur. Adityanath also attended Mithila cultural programme. Lalbabu hosted a lunch in honour of Adityanath.