JANAKPURDHAM, Dec 11: A wedding procession of more than 150 holy men has reached Janakpurdham from Uttar Pradesh of India to celebrate the auspicious Ram-Sita Vivaha Panchami on Wednesday.

These saints arrived on Monday in jeeps and buses along with ten horses. The local organizing committee has arranged for their accommodation in the guesthouse of Janakpur Area Development Council (JADC), Pagla Baba pilgrim house and few private hotels. On Wednesday, which is the main day of the event, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath will arrive to observe the special occasion.

The Province 2 government has been making massive preparations for welcoming Chief Minister Adityanath. The province will be spending Rs 5 million for the event. Monday, which marks the fourth day of the weeklong celebration, Tilakotsav Samaroha was organized on the premises of Ram Mandir. Mahantha Ramateshwar Das ' Vaishnav', the chief priest of the Janaki temple reached the temple of Ram carrying baskets filled with 1,500 flowers, sweets, curd and beaten rice. Hundreds of pilgrims from the Janaki temple marched toward Ram Mandir assisting the chief priest in carrying the baskets.

The pilgrims were welcomed by Mahantha Ram Giri, chief priest of the Ram temple. The Tilakotsav Samaroha was organized as per the Maithili tradition. Mahantha Das of the Janaki temple assumed the role of King Janak, father of princess Sita while Mahanta Giri portrayed the role of King Dashrath of Ayodhya, the father of Lord Ram. Female pilgrims sang traditional Maithili folk songs which are sung during weddings. They put Tika and curd on the forehead and face of the saints who came from Ayodhya.

On Tuesday, another ceremony called Matikor will be celebrated. As per this tradition, sand will be worshipped in front of thousands of pilgrims on the banks of Gangasagar.

 
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