Referring to the rich cultural heritage of Chhattisgarh,Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel spoke about the state’s deep connection with Lord Shri Ram. CM Baghel emphasised that despite facing numerous challenges, Lord Shri Ram never compromised his dignity. He spent a significant period of his exile, ten years, in Chhattisgarh, forging a deep connection with the state.
Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel inaugurated the National Ramayana Festival at Ramleela Maidan in Raigarh district on June 1. The National Ramayana Festival is widely appreciated not only in Chhattisgarh but also across the country. Throughout the day, the National Ramayana Festival was trending on several social media platforms, with people praising the initiative of the Chhattisgarh government to organise a National Ramayana Festival.
CM Bhupesh Baghel addressed the audience at the ‘National Ramayana Festival’. He said “Lord Shri Ram belongs to everyone, including Nishadraj and Shabri”. He highlighted the dual form of Lord Shri Ram, who is both ‘Nirakara’ and ‘Sakara’, and emphasised that believers connect with him in both these forms.
Referring to the rich cultural heritage of Chhattisgarh, CM spoke about the state’s deep connection with Lord Shri Ram. He mentioned that Chhattisgarh is the land of Kaushalya Mata, Lord Shri Ram was expected to be crowned but instead embarked on his exile. During his time in the state, Lord Shri Ram met with Nishadraj, Shabri, and various sages, symbolising the diverse experiences he had during his journey. CM Baghel emphasised that despite facing numerous challenges, Lord Shri Ram never compromised his dignity. He spent a significant period of his exile, ten years, in Chhattisgarh, forging a deep connection with the state.
The Chief Minister further expressed that the people of Chhattisgarh have a special relationship with both the Vanavasi (exile) Ram and the Kaushalya’s Ram, considering him nephew and revering him accordingly. Highlighting the diverse facets of Lord Ram’s character, Chief Minister Baghel emphasised that Chhattisgarh’s relationship with Lord Shri Ram extends beyond just the exile period. It encompasses the connection with Shabri’s Ram and Kaushalya’s Ram, showcasing the multifaceted nature of his connection.
It is noteworthy that the ‘National Ramayana Festival’ is being organised for the first time in Chhattisgarh on 01-03. June at the historic Ramleela Maidan in Raigarh. Devotional performances based on Ramkatha will be performed by Ramayana troupes from 12 states of the country as well as Cambodia and Indonesia at this mega event. Through these performances, people get to see the various national and global forms of Ramkatha. Ramayana teams from Kerala, Karnataka, Odisha, Assam, Goa, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are participating in this national festival.