Patna: The historic Dak Bungalow Chowk in the state capital was transformed into a hub of devotion and celebration on Ram Navami on Friday. CM Nitish Kumar inaugurated the festivities by lighting a ceremonial lamp, setting the tone for a day filled with spiritual fervour and communal harmony.Dak Bungalow Chowk was decorated with LED lights, laser effects and digital mapping that depicted scenes from the life of Lord Rama.
Bhajans and devotional songs were performed by BJP MP Manoj Tiwari, while Arun Govil, who portrayed Lord Rama in the epic television serial ‘Ramayan’, was also present on the stage. The event was organised by the Shri Shri Ram Navami Shobha Yatra Abhinandan Committee.The area witnessed a massive gathering of more than seven lakh devotees. The celebration featured a unique blend of technology and tradition, with drones showering flowers and 52 processions converging at the chowk.BJP president Nitin Nabin, who is also a convener of the committee, said, “Earlier, it was planned that a total of 52 ‘Shobha Yatra’ would be released from different parts of the city. But later a total of 54 yatras culminated at the Dak Bungalow Chowk.”The celebrations featured 54 beautifully decorated tableaux showcasing the life and journey of Lord Ram. They paraded through the streets of Patna before converging at Dak Bungalow Chowk. The processions were accompanied by traditional music, bhajans and chants of “Jai Shri Ram”, creating an electrifying atmosphere.The event saw participation from artists from across the country, including a well-known band from Mumbai, a dance troupe from Jharkhand and a Ganga Aarti team from Kashi. The main stage was adorned with idols of Lord Rama and Hanuman.Among others, the event was attended by Bihar governor Syed Ata Hasnain, Nagaland governor Nand Kishore Yadav, former Sikkim governor Ganga Prasad, and several prominent leaders, including deputy chief minister Samrat Choudhary, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, Union minister Giriraj Singh, Bihar assembly speaker Prem Kumar, chairman of the Bihar legislative council Awadhesh Narayan Singh, and ministers Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Shreyasi Singh, Mangal Pandey, Rishi Mishra and Sanjay Tiger, among others. BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, BJP state president Sanjay Saraogi, Bihar BJP in-charge Vinod Tawde and Patna mayor Sita Sahu also graced the occasion.Notably, the chief minister’s son Nishant Kumar was also present, adding to the significance of the occasion. The gathering stood as a testament to the unity and solidarity of the people of Bihar.The sight of devotees, especially women, swaying to Ramdhuni while saffron flags accompanied each tableau was spectacular.
