Chhattisgarh shares a profound bond with Lord Shri Ram, Mata Kaushalya, and the Ramayan
The prestigious National Ramayan Festival is all set to be a grand success because of the contribution of the states and Union Territories
Chhattisgarh’s culture hub, Raigarh, will host the National Ramayan Festival from June 1 to June 3
Raipur, 24 May 2023 . The National Ramayan Festival will be organized in the Ram Leela Ground of Raigarh, Chhattisgarh from June 1 to June 3. Delegations of Ramayan ‘tableau display’ teams from various states have been invited to this competition-based program. The theme of the dance-drama will be based on the Aranya Kand of the Ramayan epic.
Chhattisgarh has a rich religious and cultural heritage. The state shares a deep bond with Lord Shri Ram, Mata Kaushalya, and the great epic of Ramayan which is based on their life stories. Chhattisgarh has the honour of being the birthplace of Mata Kaushalya. She was born in the contemporary Dakshin Kausal, which is presently in Chhattisgarh. Mata Kaushalya is known for her generosity, knowledge, and affection for Shri Ram. She is worshipped in many places as a symbol of motherly love. However, Chhattisgarh is the only state where a temple dedicated to Mata Kaushalya has been established in Chandkhuri.
Lord Ram spent almost 10 years out of his 14 years of exile in Dandakaranya and many popular stories have originated in these places associated with Lord Ram. It is believed that Lord Ram spent a considerable part of his exile in the forest zones of Chhattisgarh. This accounts for the fact that there are many temples and religious places connected with Lord Ram in this region. This region is also considered to be the residence of many tribal communities, which have preserved the culture and traditions of their ancestors for centuries. Lord Shri Ram had spent the majority of his exile near the banks of the rivers Shivnath and Mahanadi, which are two major rivers in Chhattisgarh.
Ramayan ‘tableau display groups’ of all states and union territories have been invited to the National Ramayan Festival to be held for the first time in Chhattisgarh. Competitive programs will be organized, and the theme of the dance drama performed in the festival will be based on Ramayan’s Aranya Kand. The National Ramayan Festival will be organized at the historical Ram Leela Ground in Chhattisgarh’s culture and tradition hub, Raigarh.
