Kathmandu, December 19: The ‘Vivah Panchami’ Festival which is celebrated every year on the day of Marga Shirsha Shukla Panchami, is being celebrated all over the country today by worshipping Shri Ramachandra and Goddess Sita.

In the remembrance of a marriage of Goddess Sita and Shri Rama in the age of Treta, the day of Marga Shirsha Shukla Panchami is being celebrated today. The marriage ceremony of Goddess Sita and Shri Rama is being held today in Janakpurdham, the ancient capital of Mithila.

As described by Goswami Tulsidas in the Ramayana, the people of Mithila celebrate this festival as a special festival commemorating the wedding day of Janak Nandini Sita.

In the Treta Yuga, King Janak of Mithila organized ‘Swayamvara’ ( competition to choose a suitable marriage partner)for his daughter Sita. The marriage of Shri Rama and Goddess Sita was consummated on the day of Marga Shirsha Shukla Panchami after Shri Ram broke the bow of Shiva Dhanush into three pieces.

In the Ramayana, 56 crores of deities were believed to be present in the Swayamvara organized in Janakpurdham. The people of Mithila, who consider Goddess Sita as their daughter and sister, participated in the festival from the arrival of the procession to the wedding with joy.

According to the Mithila culture, Matkor, Tilak festival, Swayamvar and other marriage rituals are performed during the festival. According to the mythological stories, the idol of Shri Rama is placed on a specially made throne ‘dola’ with baja-gaja to the arena(amphitheater). Similarly, Goddess Sita is taken from Janaki temple to the arena (amphitheater) in a specially equipped throne ‘dola’.

Goddess Sita- Shri Rama will brought back to the Janaki temple after the completion of the marital methods according to Mithila culture. Then the marriage takes place according to the Mithila culture. Devotees from various parts of the state, including the bordering Indian region, also take part in the procession.

The laughter between the bride and groom in the arena, the jokes and the symbolic tableaus of Goddess Sita and Shri Rama coming from the village and the enthusiasm of the millions of devotees surpass the charm of a real marriage.

Formerly celebrating in ‘Tretahutiyagachhi’, the festival has been continued to be celebrated in the arena with special programs for two decades.

Devotees take baths in the lake and river early in the morning. Bhajan, Kirtan, Ramlila, Jhaki and Pravachan are also organized on this occasion. There is a belief that after participating in the marriage ceremony associated with the spirit of humanization of the deity, one will get the desired fruit and attain salvation.

The festival used to be celebrated grandly for a month but now, it is celebrated for only four days. Similarly, the Ram Panchami festival is being celebrated in Ram-Sita temples across the country with special worship and festivities. For today, there is a belief that you don’t need a ‘Sait’ (auspicious time taken out especially for marriage) to get married.

This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the wedding festival program in Janakpurdham will be celebrated by maintaining social distancing. RSS