THE National Ramayan Festival, commenced amidst devotional fervour at Ramleela Maidan here on Thursday

afternoon. The inaugural session was marked by a chain of captivating events. The festival commenced with a mass recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa, followed by a march past by international and artists from different regions.

The Indonesian contingent performed and Ramnami community led the march past dressed in traditional attire.

Addressing the mammoth gathering, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel warmly welcomed all participants, listeners, guests, officers and employees associated with the event. The CM Baghel highlighted that although the festival had been named the National Ramayana Festival, the teams from foreign countries are also participating in it. Raigarh, known as the land of culture, also boasts remarkable rock paintings that hold the rich history of human culture within its realm. “Chhattisgarh is home to Mata Kaushalya and Shabri Mata. It has been the abode of tribals and forest dwellers for centuries,” he said. Shree Ram spent a significant part of his exile in Chhattisgarh, establishing a deep bond with folks as Vanvasi Ram and Kaushalya’s Ram.

“That is why we consider him our nephew and pay respects accordingly. Lord Ram’s character reflects the essence of Chhattisgarh. Our connection with Ram extends beyond the image of an exiled prince; it encompasses the embodiment of Shabri’s Ram and Kaushalya’s Ram as well,” said CM. Higher Education Minister Umesh Patel acknowledged that this unprecedented programme was a outcome of visionary leadership of the Chief Minister, who is diligently working on the development of the Ram Van Gaman Path and the welfare of cows. Former MP Nandkumar Sai expressed admiration for the current government, which tirelessly works for the upliftment of the underprivileged and the welfare of the general public.

School Education Minister Premsai Singh Tekam, Culture Minister Amarjeet Bhagat also spoke on the occasion.

Other attraction of the day included presentations by the Cambodian team, followed by an inter-state competition held on the Ramayana’s Aranya Kand among Ramayana troupes from Uttarakhand, Karnataka, and Chhattisgarh. Shanmukh Priya and Sharad Sharma stole the show through their enchanting Bhajan Sandhya performance. The artists from Inonesia, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Goa and host Chhattisgarh are participating.