Patna: Patna’s annual Ram Navami celebrations commenced on Sunday with the flagging-off of the Shri Ram Rath from Hanuman Temple at Patna Junction. The chariot will travel across the city, inviting devotees to participate in the festivities.
The event saw the presence of Union Minister Giriraj Singh, Patna Sahib MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, and Bihar’s Road Construction Minister Nitin Naveen, among others. Leaders offered prayers, chanted Jai Shri Ram, and initiated the yatra by breaking coconuts in a traditional ritual.
As per tradition, the Shri Ram Rath will move across the city for nine days, encouraging people to gather at Dak Bungalow Square on April 6 for the grand Ram Navami procession. Volunteers will visit households, extend greetings for the Hindu New Year, and hoist Mahavir flags in preparation for the celebrations.
The Ram Navami procession this year will feature over 48 grand tableaux, depicting key events from the life of Lord Ram. Organisers expect the number to rise as several committees continue their preparations.
Nitin Naveen stated that efforts are being made to immerse Patna in a Ram Navami-themed atmosphere, with over one lakh Hindu New Year calendars being distributed. More than one lakh small saffron flags and 20,000 large flags will be hoisted across the city. Arch gates, constructed by artisans from Chandan Nagar, Kolkata, will adorn major roads leading to Dak Bungalow Square, the central venue of the event.
A special religious programme at Dak Bungalow Square will include a performance by a 51-member damru team from Varanasi and a grand Ganga Aarti, replicating the rituals performed on the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi. Devotees will also witness devotional singing, bhajans, and kirtans alongside the tableaux.
The main event of the Ram Navami Shobha Yatra will be attended by Governor Arif Mohammad Khan and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who will address the gathering and participate in the celebrations.
