Thousands gather to watch ‘Ram baraat’
By IANSTuesday, October 5, 2010
AGRA - Thousands of people, including women and children, lined up along roadsides, on balconies and rooftops here Tuesday to catch a glimpse of the ‘Ram baraat’, a procession of caparisoned elephants, horses, colourful tableux and ‘baraatis’ for the divine marriage of Hindu god Ram and Sita.
The procession will head to Balkeshwar, on the far end of the city, where artisans have created a ‘Janakpuri’ for the ‘marriage’ on Thursday.
Artists from Kolkata and Jaipur as well as locals were employed to help create the mythological Janakpuri city.
Tuesday’s procession had actors essaying the roles of Ram, his brothers Lakshman and Shatrughan, the monkey god Hanuman, and other characters from the Ramayana.
“In three days we expect a million people to visit Janakpuri. This year the arrangements are definitely better and more elaborate,” said Ram Avtar Sharma, a key member of the committee in charge of Janakpuri.
The three-day ‘Ram baraat’, which began Tuesday, will cover a distance of 12 km through Agra.
Each year many actors vie for the role of Janak, Sita’s father. The role is auctioned to the highest bidder.
The funds for the ‘Ram baraat’ are raised locally. Corporate houses often contribute generously.
