Belapur village set to celebrate Ram Navami

CBD BELAPUR The 150-year- old village in the city, Belapur Gaon, is all set to celebrate Ram Navami today. Celebrations to mark the birth anniversary of Lord Ram is organised by the Ram Maruti Janam Utsav Mandal trust at Belapur Gaon.

The celebrations, which begin days before the Navami day, begin on Gudi Padva and continue for the next 15 days.

“All the villagers come together to celebrate the birth of Lord Ram. Kirtan mandalis come from different parts of the state to perform here every evening, till Hanuman Jayanti,” said Mahadev Mangal Patil, president of the trust.

“On this auspicious day of Ram Navami, devotees pray to Ram and seek his blessings and protection,” said a local flower seller in the village.

“At 12.40pm, the golden idol of Lord Rama will be placed on a jhula (swing) while devotees will sing shlokas and hymns. A puja will also be performed by the women from the village,” said a local villager. At midnight, a procession will be carried around the village with the idol on a palanquin.

The biggest attraction during the festival is the jatraotsav (village fair) which is one of the biggest fairs organised in the city. A Kusthi (wrestling competition) is also organised every year three days prior to Ram Navami, the finals for which will be held today, informed villagers.

PRAGYA PRIYADARSHINI/ HT Nine-day festivities at Sri Bhakta Aanjaneya Trust in SIES, Nerul, which began on April 14, will end with a maha havan on the occasion of Ram Navami, on Friday.