Ramnavmi Ratha Yatra is held during the festival of Janmotsava at the
Sansthan Shri Kalaram Mandir at Panchavati which is dedicated to Lord
Rama. The festival is which lasts for 15days begin from the first day
of Chaitra till Chaitra Purnima. The major attraction of the festival
is Ratha Yathra held on the second day, that starts at about 4.30
p.m and continuous till late night with the rath of Lord Rama and
Lord Hanuman. The raths have a big wooden round rod known as Dhuri and
are pulled with heavy ropes by the rath sevakas. The order of the procession
is that 1st moves the bullock cart of Sanai / Choughada, followed by the
Palkhi of Shri Ramachandra, Pujadhikari (priest), Garudarath (the rath
of Lord Hanuman) and finally the Ramrath (the rath of Lord Rama). The
pujadhikari who maintains fasting from the first day of the Chaitra to
the Rathyatra, accompany the whole procession by facing towards the rath
with folded hands. The other attraction of the festival is the Ganga Snan
ie., the bathing of the idol of Lord Rama in the holy water of the Ganges.
The festival of Janmotsava is celebrated with colourful lightings and
bursting crackers and large number of devotees gathered here to witness
this.
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