In preparation for the consecration of Ram Lalla’s idol at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh is planning to organize eight-day-long “rath yatras” and “kalash yatras” (chariot and pitcher processions) in villages and urban areas of all districts of the state starting January 14.
In addition to the processions, there will also be bhajan kirtans, Ram katha discourses, and continuous recitation of Ramayana’s Sundarkand at temples and religious centers to promote the country’s cultural heritage, according to officials.
The Chief Secretary Durga Shankar Mishra has issued a government order to all districts, instructing them to ensure that these programs are carried out in a grand manner.
The order emphasizes the importance of preserving Valmiki’s Ramayana, a world-famous intangible heritage, and spreading information about it. It also highlights the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya as a step towards establishing culture, ideals, and traditions.
The “rath yatras” will mainly involve men, while “kalash yatras” will primarily be carried out by women, as per officials.
The selection of temples for these events will be done by the respective district administrations. Additionally, the state Culture Department has launched a web portal to upload photographs of the events with their GPS locations and contact details of shrine managements.
Registered artists will perform in these events, and payments will be made through the district tourism and cultural boards.
Nodal officers have also been appointed for organizing these activities, and officials have been tasked with ensuring cleanliness at the event locations.
A senior government official emphasized the promotion and preservation of Valmiki’s Ramayana as an intangible heritage recognized by UNESCO.