Kathmandu, Nov 25: The Bibaha Panchami festival is being marked across the country today. The festival that commemorates the union of Princess Sita and Lord Ram in Treta Yug (Vedic era) is celebrated with gaiety and religious fervour in Janakpurdham.
The festival is observed on the fifth day of Marga Shukla Paksha (waxing moon) in the Nepali month of Mangsir as per the lunar calendar.
On the first day of the festival, Nagar Darshan (Town visit) ritual is scheduled. Part of the celebration includes two children dressed as Ram and his brother Laxman parading around the ancient Janaki Temple.
The second day is known as Phulbari Leela and is marked by dance performances and colourful processions. The third day is Dhanusha Yagya followed by Tilakotsav on the fourth day. The fifth day is celebrated as Matkor and the final day is Ram Sita Swoyambar, the engagement day.
Next day, the visitors comprising saints and religious leaders from nearby Indian cities including Ayodhya arriving Janakpurdham to attend the re-enacting of the Ram Sita Swoyambar during the Bibaha Panchami festival are bade farewell marking the end of the festival.
The people from different religious faiths such as Buddhism and Sikhism also come to observe the celebration while the Hindu religious leaders and devotees participate in the rituals in large numbers.
During the festival, Ram and Sita are worshipped and homage is paid to the divine couple. Janakpur, the capital of Madhesh Province in Nepal, is believed to be the birthplace of Sita and the ancient Mithila’s capital.
