Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Nepal today on a 2-day visit. He went with his Nepali counterpart PM KP Oli to Jnakpurdham to offer prayers at the Janki Temple.
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PM Modi also inaugurated the Jnakpur-Ayodhya-Janakpur bus service there. Hailing tourism as the fastest emerging sector, he added that the bus service will strengthen the age-old ties between the two holy sites for Hindus.
Janakpur is the birthplace of Sita. Located in the Dhanusha district in the Terai region in Nepal, this town boasts of numerous temples, monasteries and artistic centres. It used to be the capital of ancient Mithila kingdom, where Sita’s father, Janak was once king. This town houses Nepal’s biggest temple, the Janki temple, built for its Princess Sita who married Lord Ram at this very town.
The temple, built in a unique style of Hindu-Koiri architecture is a huge complex with the three-storied structure standing 50 metres tall and has 60 rooms. Though ancient temples are believed to have existed on the site, the temple that stands today was built by Queen Vrisha Bhanu of Tikamgarh in 1910. It is said that it had cost 9 lakh rupees at that time. The temple attracts millions of Hindus from all over the world and is in the tentative World Heritage site list of UNESCO.
Built-in bright white and decorated with colourful artwork, flags and paintings, the temple has a stunning view. Lord Ram and Sita are worshipped here.
A number of festivals are celebrated here. Ram Navami, Chhath, and Bibaha Panchami are the main ones. Bibaha Panchami commemorates the wedding of Lord Ram to Sita and is the biggest festival organised here.
Bibaha Panchami is observed on the Panchami of the Shukla half in the Margasira month (November-December) and the festivities continue for a week. Grand processions with artists and the deities are taken out and the wedding is performed in the temple.
Every corner, every square of Janakpurdham is dedicated to Sita and Ram. The town celebrates its beloved princess till date and every year on Bibaha Panchami celebrates her wedding with all pomp and glory.
PM Modi talked about the connectivity between Ayodhya and Janakpur today. Hopefully, one day Lord Ram’s birthplace in Ayodhya will have an equally glorious temple to welcome the princess of Mithila with equal festivities and pride.