Ram Barat in Agra: The Grand Wedding Procession of the Hindu God Rama
Ram Barat in Agra is a festival that is celebrated as a part of Ramlila in Agra, India. The term ‘Barat’ refers to the marriage procession in Hindi. The festival, as the name suggests, is dedicated to Lord Rama and is among the biggest annual events that happen in India. Devotees from different parts of India come to see the Ram Barat in Agra as Lord Rama is considered a divine Hindu deity. The Ram Barat function is celebrated every year in different localities of Agra, decorated with lights and flowers.History
The tradition of Ram Barat in Agra was started by a reputed businessman Lala Kokamal, a devotee of Lord Rama, around 125 years back. The road from where the Ram Barat proceeds has been named Lala Kokamal in honour of the devotee. The grand and divine marriage procession event is managed and controlled by the family of Lala Kokama, currently, under his great-grandson, Rajeev K Agarwal. The fundraising and promotion activity for the Ram Barat is done by the family.Preparation
The preparations for the Ram Barat is done in a grand manner, the locality where the marriage procession is decided to be carried out is given huge funds to decorate the area as the parental home of the bride Sita. Several skilled craftsmen and artists are called up from various parts of the country, to set up Janak Mahal, where the marriage of Lord Rama and Sita happens. The Ram Barat event lasts for three days. The marriage procession is taken out on the first day itself. The place is lit up with thousands of lamps and non-stop music, watched by millions of devotees from different parts of the country.When to Hold
Ram Barat in Agra is held at the end of the Navaratri festival and before the start of Dussehra.Ram Barat in Agra
The three-day marriage procession event is funded heavily, decorated with lights and flowers. The festival is a center of attraction in Agra. The festival is celebrated to recreate the wedding of Lord Rama and Sita in the Janak Mahal, which is believed to have taken place thousands of years back as per the Ramayana. There is a rath (chariot) that carries the procession of the artist playing Lord Rama and is accompanied by many other artists playing different characters from the Ramayana. A huge crowd is gathered to watch the event. Several bands also accompany the devotees in the parade.
Day 1 of Ram Barat in Agra
On the first day of Ram Barat, artists playing various characters from the Ramayana gather at the place from where the festival is deemed to begin. The three-day-long marriage procession of Lord Rama begins from here. Cinema halls in Agra live telecast the festival in order to accommodate the devotees, gathered to watch the divine event. The wedding event follows typical Hindu traditions. Hindu wedding rituals like Haldi, Mehendi, Sangeet, and other cultural traditions are also followed as a part of marriage custom.
Day 2 of Ram Barat in Agra
On the second day of Lord Rama’s marriage procession, the Barat passes the Agra Fort, which was once the kingdom of King Janak, the father of Sita. The Barat on this day passes from various localities of Agra so that the locals get to see the grand marriage procession from their homes. The localities are decorated with lights and flowers to welcome Lord Rama’s Barat.
Day 3 of Ram Barat in Agra
This is the final day of the Ram Barat where the locals are dressed up grandly, making it look like a royal wedding taking place. The day sees the ‘Vidai’ or going away of the bride Sita from Janak Mahal post the marriage with Lord Rama. The grand festival of Ram Barat in Agra is primarily dedicated to the marriage of Lord Rama and Sita. In addition, the event also features the Barat of Lord Rama’s brother Lakshmana, who gets married to Uttara on the same day. The Ram Barat event also conveys social messages like the safety of women, the safety of animals, etc.
The Ram Barat is a significant festival of Hindus. This festival plays an important role in strengthening the beliefs of people in Indian culture and history.