A Cyber Magazine To Develop Terai & Nepal As Well

Vivah Panchami

Vivah Panchami is the most famous festival of Terai state of Nepal which is celebrated with great pomp and show on the auspicious of the wedding ceremony of Sita and ram. It takes place on the fifth day of bright moon fortnight of the month of mangsir (December0 every year. On this auspicious day, the epic god Rama of the Ramayan and the king of Ayodhya is believed to have wedded Sita, epic goddess and the daughter of king Janak of Mithila in Nepal.

This day is marked as a land mark in Nepal and India. This occasion also marks as a cultural bridge between the two countries. The Mithila Mahatmya mentions the place Marwa where the wedding ceremony of Rama and Sita is solemnized graciously and annually. This festival is one of the biggest festivals of Janakpur. Pilgrims from Nepal and India visit Janakpur every year on this occasion and number is increasing every year. This festival also serves as a cultural and matrimonial bridge between the two countries. This also proves that Nepal and India are culturally, historically and geographically very close to each other. So this festival is gaining popularity day by day for the pilgrims of the whole Hindu world. This festival came into prominence only in the last 5th and 6th decades. The climate of Terai state also suits to the pious pilgrims because it is neither cold nor hot. Janakput is marching towards modernization very rapidly. It has road, rail and airlik. So it is very easy to reach Janakpur on this occasion.

This festival has great religious significance. So the Hindu devout pilgrims assemble to pay their homage to Lord Rama and Goddess Sita. They offer prayers from the early hours of the morning to the late hours of the evening. The whole day is resounds with Vedic mantras (hymns) and Kirtan (chanting of the names of Rama and Sita). The whole atmosphere of Janakpur bears a religious outlook. New gates and arches are made from Rama Temple to Janaki Temple because a marriage procession proceeds towards Rangbhoomi (Barbigha) in which priests, pilgrims, sadhus, mahanths, saints and Brahmins take part.
This marriage procession starts in the after noon. It is led by the royal chariot Rama and Sita (in form of bridegroom and bride). This occasion is marked by humanization of bridegroom because He is in Human form. The image of Rama is taken in procession, followed by thousands of pilgrims (men and women). This procession reminds us exactly a real marriage of a bridegroom. A band party leads the marriage procession. The women of Mithila sing marriage folksongs on the whole way. They sing paricchan (seeing), Sindurdaan (Vermilion applying ceremony), Swyambar (exchange o garland between bride and bridegroom). These ritual folk songs are very popular in Mithila.

A special programme is arranged to mark this auspicious occasion at rangbhoomi. This marriage party stays there for four and five hours. A mock marriage ceremony of Rama and Sita is solemnized with all rituals.

A sacred bow is also broken by Rama on this occasion. Rama Lila is also performed by professional cultural troupes. Thousands of spectators witness this wedding ceremony. Thousands of moving shops and eating stalls are erected to serve the purposes of the pilgrims. The marriage party returns in the evening to the Rama temple where a wedding ceremony of Rama and Sita is solemnized at the Marwa. The priests perform all the rites and rituals and they are paid in cash and kind these activities are done under the supervision of the Guthi Sansthan. The Rama temple seems very active on this auspicious occasion. Some rites and rituals of marriage ceremony are also solemnized on this occasion. Some of the other temples also spend lavishly on the decoration and celebration of this ceremony.

A big fair is also held on this occasion in Janakpur. It lasts for a week every year. It is the biggest festival of Terai state of Nepal and is being performed here since time immemorial.

Shivratri

Maha Shivratri occurs on the 14th night of the new moon during the dark half of the month of Phalguna. On a moonless night in February every year, occurs the night of Shiva, the destroyer. This is the night when He is said to have performed the Tandava or the dance of primordial creation, preservation and destruction.

Devotees of Shiva fast during the day and maintain a long vigil during the night. In temples all across the country, bells ring, and sacred texts are chanted and traditional offerings of leaves and milk are made to the Shiv lingam, the phallic symbol of the god. There is a legend behind Shiva's phallic form. It is believed that once Brahma and Vishnu, the two pillars of the holy Trinity were having an argument as to who was supreme. Brahma declared himself to be the Creator of all and thus more revered. Vishnu claimed that since he was the Creator and the Destroyer, he commanded more respect. At that moment a huge lingam ablaze with flames appeared from nowhere. Both the gods were so overwhelmed by its constantly increasing size, that they forgot their quarrel and decided to determine its size. Vishnu took the form of a boar and went to the netherworld while Brahma in the form of a swan ascended to the skies. Neither could ascertain the size. Just then, Shiva appeared out of the lingam and proclaimed that he was the progenitor of both of them. He was the Creator, Preserver and the Destroyer. He demanded that thereafter he be worshipped in his phallic form, the lingam.

On the day of Shivratri, the lingam is bathed with the five sacred offerings of a cow, called the panchagavya - milk, sour milk, urine, butter and dung. Thereafter the five foods of immortality - milk, clarified butter, curd, honey and sugar - are placed before the lingam. Dhatura and jati, though poisonous fruits, are believed to be sacred to Shiva and thus offered at his temple. Eleven is considered to be the sacred number of the Lord. Devotees keep a fast (vrat) on Shivratri and observe strict rules, for vardan (boon).Special celebrations are held at important Shiva temples

Besides Hinduism, Nepal is also the home of innumerable other faiths and the religious and cultural diversity of this nation is manifested in the large number of non-Hindu festivals. The sizeable Muslim communities have their Ids in common with Muslims across the world. Idu'l Fitr, Idu'l Zuha and Id-i-Milad are the three festive occasions widely celebrated by Muslims in India.
Id is celebrated with great enthusiasm all over the country, and one can see Muslims of all age groups and from all stratas of society attired in new clothes, visiting mosques to offer namaaz.
The tombs of many Sufi saints attract devotees of all religious persuasions, especially during the urs or death anniversaries. The best known urs are centred at tombs in towns like Ajmer, Delhi, Manakpur, Nagore and Dongri.

Id-ul-Fitr (Ramzan Id)

Coming with the new moon, this festival marks the end of Ramzan, the ninth month of the Muslim year. It was during this month that the holy Koran was revealed. Muslims keep a fast every day during this month and on the completion of the period, which is decided by the appearance of the new moon, Id-ul-Fitr is celebrated with great eclat. Prayers are offered in mosques and Idgahs and elaborate festivities are held.

Id-ul-Azha or Id-ul-Zuha (Bakr-Id)

The Id-ul-Azha commemorates the ordeal of Hazrat Ibrahim, who had been put to a terrible test by God when he was asked to sacrifice whatever was dearest to him and he decided to sacrifice the life of his son. As he was on the point of applying the sword to his son's throat, it was revealed to him that this was meant only to test his faith, and it was enough, if instead he sacrifices only a ram in the name of Allah. This is celebrated on the tenth day of Zilhijja, when the Haj celebrations at Mecca are rounded off by the sacrifice of goats or camels. In India, too, goats and sheep are sacrificed all over the country and prayers are offered.

Id-i-Milad (Barah-wafat)

The Prophet was born on the twelfth day of Rabi-ul-Awwal, the third month of the Muslim year. His death anniversary also falls on the same day, the word 'barah' standing for the twelve days of the Prophet's sickness. During these days, sermons are delivered in mosques by learned men, focussing on the life and noble deeds of the Prophet.

In some parts of the country, a ceremony known as 'sandal 'rite is performed over the symbolic footprints of the Prophet engraved in stone. A representation of 'buraq', a horse on which the Prophet is believed to have ascended to heaven , is kept near the footprints and anointed with sandal paste or scented powder, and the house and casket containing these are elaborately decorated. Elegies or 'marsiyas' are sung in memory of the last days of the Prophet. The twelfth day or the Urs proper is observed quietly, in prayers and alms-giving