CM's team off to Ayodhya to hand over invitation to Janaki Bibah Mahostsav

PARSA, Nov 17: A 251-member delegation, including Chief Minister Satish Kumar Singh, has set out for the Shree Ram Temple at Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh of India to hand over invitations to Indian guests to the Janaki Bibah Mahotsav going to be held in Janakpurdham on December 6.     

Chief of the World Hindu Council Janakpur, Satish Kumar Sah said the delegation left Birgunj for Ayodhya via the Raxaul transit today.     

"On Saturday, we set out from Janakpur with the accompaniment of music. We had an overnight stay in Birgunj. We will reach Ayodhya tonight and hand the invitation to the Temple office-bearers to attend the Janaki Bibah Mahotsav," he said.     

Sah added that the Tilokotsav will take place at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on Monday.     

The Janaki Bibah Mahotsav is the customary enactment of the marriage ceremony between Sita (Janaki) with the Hindu god Rama. As per the scriptures, Janaki is the daughter of the sage king Janaka of the ancient kingdom of Videha.     

As per time-honoured tradition, the delegation will also hand over the 'tilak', the symbolic gift comprising of clothes, ornaments, curd, butter, flattened rice, fruits and sweets and other delicacies to the lord Shree Ram as well as for his three brothers and the queen.     

The delegation comprising the Chief Minister also includes the provincial government's Minister for Home Affairs, Communication and Law Raj Kumar Lekhi, the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Mohammad Shakil Miya, Minister for Labour and Transport Kaushal Kumar Yadav and Minister for Forests and Environment Tribhuvan Sah, among others.     

Also included in the delegation is the Mayor of Janakpurdham Sub-Metropolitan City, Manoj Kumar Saha, the President of Janakpurdham Chamber of Commerce and Industry Surendra Bhandari and the successor priest of the Janaki Temple Ram Roshan Das Vaishnav and representatives of civil society.     

The "bridegroom's party" will arrive in Janakpurdham from Ayodhya for the Janaki Bibah Mahotsav on December 6, the Council president Sah said.