Mega arrangements for Janakpuri-Ram Barat festival

AGRA: Northern India’s one of the biggest Janakpuri and Ram Barat festival celebrations began in the city on Monday. Local administration and police department have made extensive arrangements as over three lakh devotees are expected to reach Janakpuri, created in Balkeshwar area on Tuesday.
Ram Barat is a unique, yearly fest in which the wedding ceremony of Ram and Sita is reconstructed, right from the barat procession to vidai.The barat procession started in the evening on Monday from Rawat Para and covered localities including Johri Bazaar, Daresi, Kacheri Ghat, Belanganj, Pathwari, Dhuliganj, Ghatia throughout the night to reach Janakpuri in morning on Tuesday.
Following this, a grand reception ceremony will take place at the Janak Mahal.
Devouts in large numbers attended the barat and were soaked in religious fervor in the evening. Dressed-up in the best of attires, people were seen dancing on the loud music. More than 120 religious tableaux were ahead of magnificently decorated chariots moving Ram ahead. Barat was received by rain of rose petals, garlands and flower cannon were also used.
The Barat got grand welcome by locals, businessmen, market committee people at different places. Artists portraying characters of Ram Barat at Janakpuri stage were major attraction for the visitors.
Elaborate security including police, provincial armed constabulary personnel, teams of rapid action force, civil defense personnel and volunteers have been guarding the celebrations.
Sanjay Srivastava, general secretary of the organizing committee said, “It’s our good luck that we are hosting Ram Barat. People of Balkeshwar are glad that they will get blessings of Sita and Ram. We are having guests from outside Agra to celebrate the festival. We are expecting a turnout of more than three lakh people by Tuesday.”