In the olden days Sri Rama Navami was a holiday. We'd do some small puja perhaps and some people went to the temple. Panakam was had. It was a quiet affair. Just like Ganesh Chaturthi was. Or Hnauman Jayanthi was. Or Durga Puja was.
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| Our colony |
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| Temple complex |
I noticed a huge tent coming up in our colony community hall and wondered what the occasion was. Normally the Ganesh puja is a big affair but this time it extended to Sri Rama Navami. Flags came up - by the hundreds! The tent itself must have had about 50-60 flags. Every second house had one or more flags. I was amazed at this fervour.
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| The slum |
Further down the road the slum behind the colony had as many flags. Including one in the Ambedkar Yuvajana Sangham. I wondered if the Ambekarites knew of Ambedkar's stance on Hinduism. Most likely they would not know. It would be a big thing if they knew a bit about Ambedkar. A bit more about Sri Ram.
But flags do that.
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| Massive scale |
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| Food preparations |
I saw one man sitting by his scooter tying the flag to his scooter. Further down I saw a huge pandal in the temple complex with hundreds of flags again.
Out in Czech Colony they shut out a road and put up a huge pandal. On the cross road they set up a huge kitchen. That entire stretch of road was filled with the flags. People were dressed out in their best. Fod was cooking. An important spiritual man Chaganti was coming - as Chief Guest.
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| Even our garbage truck guy got inspired - luckily no one got offended by this |
Massive.
I never saw such fervour before for Rama Navami. Is it because people are suddenly more religious?
Whatever it is - Jai Sri Ram. And hopefully follow his great lessons and virtues.
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