Massive turn out in Ram Navami celebration: Paduka from Chitrakoot, Darbar(King’s Court Yard) from Bobbili went around Rayagada town in a devotional atmosphere
Rayagada (Badal Tha): Rayagada Ramanavami Festival Committee had been preparing for a long time to celebrate Ramanavami with great pomp. As resolved by committee, Rayagada, a grand procession started from Kodanda Ram Temple near Jagannath Mandir and passed through main road, over bridge, Kapilas Hotel Chowk, Jyoti Mahal Chowk & culminated near Venkateswara Temple. Thousands of Ram devotees holding saffron flags & wearing Uttariyas, who took part in the Jatha, raised several mantras, hymns and slogans enunciating Ram, Jay Sriram. Anna Prasadam was distributed to all the devotees. On this auspicious occasion, Shri Ram Paduka from Chitrakoot-Chhattisgarh, Darbar(King’s Court Yard) from Bobbili-Andhra Pradesh were taken around the city in a well-decorated chariot, pulled only by women devoutees, for the people to see. It went around Rayagada town in a devotional atmosphere with beating of drums & bells. Rayagada was bustling with several religious activities on the occasion of the holy Ram Navami. While this procession was going around, hundreds of devotees were seen adding up at every square.
The entire town was decorated in saffron color flags for the Ram Navami festival. Volunteers were given the responsibility of maintaining peace and order by the committee. Strict security arrangements were made by the police administration. Several outfits took part namely Biswa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, RSS, BMS, Ram Sena, Shri Ram Jhanki, several Bhajan Kirtan mandalis, students of various schools and colleges and various traditional dance groups and other Hindu religious civic societies participated.
Under the convenorship Bidya Bhusan Panda & Members Shyama Dash, Ajay Chullet, Rajesh Naidu and Ram Krishna Panigrahi, many dignitaries named BJP President Gopi Anand, BJP Ex-Presidents Siba Pattanaik & Siba Ullaka, Vice-President Tutu Dash, MP candidate Kaliram Majhi, Councillor Manjula Miniyaka, Press Club President Jogeswar Das, Zilla Sambadika Sangha President Badal Tah, BMS Secretary Ganesh Sahu, Minority Cell President B Nagaraju, Odisha Adivasi Manch State Convenor Bidulata Huika joined the rally. The event was graced by saint Chaitanya Ram ji(Buchi Baba).
As a token of brotherhood, Muslims and other entities distributed curd water & ruh-afza cold drinks. Similarly, another procession started from the local PHD Khinkhina Jhar Hanuman Temple and ended there after going round the town and prasad sevan. This year the religious fervor without any untoward incident has been appreciated by the general public.
