Vivaha Panchami: Strengthening cross-border ties

By Laxmi Chaudhary

Janakpurdham, Nov. 17: The age-old cultural and historical connection between Janakpurdham in Nepal and Ayodhya in India will once again take centre stage during this year’s Vivaha Panchami Mahotsav, which commemorates the marriage of Goddess Sita with Lord Ram in the Treta Yuga.

This event symbolises the timeless bond between the two cities, rooted in shared heritage and spirituality, and is being elevated through cross-border collaboration. 

With the completion of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, a delegation from Janakpurdham is travelling to Ayodhya this year to invite the people of Ayodhya to join the Mahotsav on December 6.

A team led by the Chief Minister of Madhesh Province, Satish Kumar Singh, is heading to Ayodhya with an invitation to celebrate the wedding anniversary in Janakpurdham, aiming to strengthen ties between the two nations.

Following the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhyadham, India, last year, preparations are underway to celebrate Vivaha Panchami in Janakpurdham in a grand manner this year. 

A separate team led by Chief Minister Singh and members of the Bishwo Hindu Parishad are traveling to Ayodhyadham from Janakpurdham, carrying tilak, koseli (traditional gifts) and a formal invitation.

A team from the Bishwo Hindu Parishad departed from Janakpurdham on Saturday, while the team led by Chief Minister Singh will leave for Ayodhyadham on Monday with koseli and the invitation.

While bidding farewell to the Bishwo Hindu Parishad delegation, Chief Minister Singh said that the provincial government is committed to strengthening the bond between the two cities and promoting religious tourism to connect Janakpurdham and Ayodhya.

The delegation will spend the night in Birgunj before continuing their journey to Ayodhya on Sunday morning with a delegation of Chief Minister Singh.

The journey began with blessings from Janaki Mandir Mahanta Ramatapeshwar Das Vaishnav, who expressed his joy over this innovative gesture of sending tilaks as a token of divine unity.

“This act strengthens the centuries-old bond between the two cities and countries, which dates back to the Treta era,” he said.

The Bishwo Hindu Parishad delegation is carrying 500 tilaks and an invitation letter for Vivaha Panchami to be held on December 6. 

The delegation will reach Ayodhya on Sunday, and on Monday, the delegation led by the general secretary of the Parishad, Rajendra Singh Pankaj, will formally deliver the invitation to Champat Rai, General Secretary of the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirtha Kshetra Trust, on November 3.

Special guests from Ayodhya are also expected to attend the celebrations this year.