National Ramayana Festival transforms Raigarh into ‘Rammaygarh
Golden Book of World Records acknowledged two world records made during the festival
World record acknowledged for holding the longest stage performances of Aranya Kand
375 artists from 17 groups perform for 756 minutes over three days
Over 10,000 people chant Hanuman Chalisa for three consecutive days
Karnataka team emerges as winner, followed by the Assam team in second place and the Jharkhand team in third place in the competition based on the theme of “Aranya Kand”
Raipur (thestates.news) | Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel delivered a heartfelt address at the closing ceremony of the Three-days ‘National Ramayana Festival’ held at Ramleela Maidan in Raigarh. He emphasised that Lord Shri Ram resides in everyone and is an integral part of everyone’s lives. “The word ‘Ram’ holds immense power, the more you listen to it, the more you meditate on it, the more deeper our thirst for its essence becomes. Our Ram is Kaushalya’s Ram, Vanvasi’s Ram, Shabri’s Ram, our nephew Ram, and Ram is for all of us”, he added. Throughout the festival, Raigarh transformed into ‘Rammaygarh’, with the enthusiastic participation of the devotees. The pandal remained brimming with devotees for all three days, and guests from neighboring states also graced the event. Chief Minister Baghel expressed his joy in witnessing everyone reciting and humming verses from the Ramayana, fostering a sense of unity and devotion among all.
The Chief Minister highlighted the success of the National Ramayana Festival, which initially aimed to celebrate the Ramayana on a national level but eventually turned into an international event with the participation of groups from Cambodia and Indonesia. He expressed his gratitude to the jury members for their valuable insights and said that the various previous festivals that were organised in different parts of the country mainly focused on chapters depicting Lord Shri Ram’s childhood and Ramleela, this festival has showcased the Lord Shri Ram’s stories belonging to Aranya Kand for the first time. The Chief Minister commended the efforts of all those who played a direct or indirect role in making the festival a success and extended his gratitude to them. He further stated that the state government has organised the National Ramayana Festival for the first time in the state, which has achieved great success and proved to be a remarkable event.
State to establish separate ‘Authority’ for protection and conservation of all Rivers
At the closing ceremony, Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel emphasised the significance of Chhattisgarh’s forests and their connection to Lord Shri Ram’s exile. He highlighted that Lord Shri Ram traversed the forests, rivers, and mountains of Chhattisgarh during his journey. As a state abundant in forests and rivers, Chhattisgarh holds its cultural heritage along the riverbanks. The conservation of rivers and nature is a priority of the state government, with dedicated ‘Authorities’ established for the preservation of the Indravati and Arpa rivers. A grand Maha-aarti was carried out for the Kelo, Mahanadi, and Shivnath rivers. The Chief Minister urged everyone to cherish and protect nature, acknowledging its valuable blessings. Additionally, he announced plans to establish a separate ‘Authority’ for the conservation of all rivers in the state.
CM pays tribute to the people who lost their life in Odisha Train Accident
At the closing ceremony of the National Ramayana Festival, Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel expressed his condolences for the lives lost in the train accident in Balasore, Odisha. He acknowledged the unpredictability of life and emphasised that outcomes that happened in anyone’s life are ultimately in the hands of God. He prayed for the peace of the departed souls and to give strength to the families who have lost their family members in this accident.
Culture Minister Mr. Amarjeet Bhagat, presiding over the program, said that people actively participated in the National Ramayana Festival. Raigarh remained immersed in the spirit of Rama, giving us the feeling as if we had arrived in Ayodhya. He mentioned that Chhattisgarh is not only the maternal home of Mata Kaushalya but also the cherished land of Lord Rama. He emphasized that the longest period of exile was spent in Chhattisgarh, establishing our timeless connection with Lord Rama throughout the ages.
National Ramayana Festival sets two ‘World Records’
The state’s Culture Department achieved a significant milestone through the National Ramayana Festival by setting a new world record for holding the longest stage performances of Aranya Kand, lasting 765 minutes over three days. A total of 375 artists from 17 teams across 13 states, including Chhattisgarh, as well as two international teams, Cambodia and Indonesia, participated in the festival. The Culture Department received recognition for the ‘Most Stage Artist Performing on Aranya Kand’ record, marking the program with the highest number of artists and for the longest duration. Additionally, the Raigarh district administration was honored with a world record for the collective chanting of Hanuman Chalisa by over 10,000 people. The Chhattisgarh Culture Department and the Raigarh District Administration of Chhattisgarh have received the acclamation in the form of a certificate from the Golden Book of World Records for their achievements.
Karnataka team emerges as winner, followed by the Assam team in second place and the Jharkhand team in third place in the competition based on the theme of “Aranya Kand”
The Karnataka team emerged as the winner in the Aranya Kand competition held during the National Ramayana Festival. The team leader was felicitated with a memento, a state ‘gamcha’, a copy of Ramcharit Manas, and a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh. The second prize was awarded to the team from Assam, which received a cash prize of Rs 3 lakh, along with a memento, state ‘gamcha’, and a copy of Ramcharit Manas. The third prize was awarded to the team from Jharkhand, which received a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh, along with a memento, state ‘gamcha’, and a copy of Ramcharit Manas. Raigarh Municipal Corporation Mayor, Mrs. Janki Katju, presented a mace (gada) to the Chief Minister during the ceremony.
All the states and jury members including from Cambodia and Indonesia were honoured at the closing ceremony. School Education Minister Mr. Premsai Singh Tekam, Higher Education Minister Mr. Umesh Patel, Parliamentary Secretary Mr. Chandradev Rai, MLA Mr. Prakash Nayak, MLA Mr. Laljit Singh Rathia, MLA Mr. Ram Kumar Yadav, MLA Chakradhar Singh, MLA Mr. Laljit Singh Rathia, Chairman of Gau Seva Aayog Mahant Ramsunder Das, former MP Mr. Nandkumar Sai, former MLA Mr. Bodhram Kanwar, Raigarh Municipal Corporation Mayor Mrs. Janki Katju and District Panchayat President Mr. Nirakar Patel, Director of Culture Department Mr. Vivek Acharya, Raigarh Collector Mr.Taran Prakash Sinha were present in the closing ceremony.
