Bihar: Sitamarhi put on alert ahead of ‘Bhumi Pujan’ in Ayodhya

PATNA: The Sitamarhi district administration has sounded an alert ahead of the ‘bhumi pujan’ celebrations in Ayodhya on Wednesday. Sitamarhi, known as the birthplace of ‘Janki’ (Sita), has been decked up for the celebrations even as the mood is subdued due to the raging Covid-19 pandemic and floods in north Bihar.
“Though the main function is scheduled to take place at Ayodhya, Sitamarhi is closely associated with it for being the birth place of Goddess Sita. So we have cautioned the police officers concerned and asked them to remain on alert on the occasion of the ‘bhumi pujan’,” Sitamarhi SP Anil Kumar said.
The district has a history of communal flare ups. Close to the India-Nepal border, Sitamarhi had seen riots in the early 90s during RJD rule in which several people had lost their lives. Last year also, the situation turned volatile during an idol immersion procession.
On Monday, a meeting of the members of the peace committee was held in which it was decided that the members will help the district authorities in maintaining communal harmony. Soil and holy water from five places associated with the goddess have already been sent to Ayodhya for the foundation day celebrations.
A Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) functionary Ram Vinay Kumar said, “Mini diwali will be celebrated at Punaura Dham with lighting of ‘diyas’ here. A ‘rangoli’ has been created at the Janki Sthan Mandir where earthen lights will be lit by devotees. However, people have been asked to light ‘diyas’ at home and not to violate the lockdown.”
Another district associated with lord Ram is Buxar. Several places such as the Vishwamitra Muni Ashram, Ram Rekha Ghat, Ram Chabutara will be decked up. “Here is Guru (saint) Vishwamitra Ashram where Ram as a child got education and training in archery. We have collected holy water and soil from those places,” said Jagdish Chandra Pandey, a member of the Ramayana Circuit in Buxar.
Pandey left for Ayodhya with the collected holy water and soil from temples and other religious places in the district on a motorbike. “I will hand over the materials to the chief priest of the Ram Janam Bhumi Tirth Kshetra trust,” Pandey said, adding that Buxar is also credited with having the first temple set up by lord Rama after his victory. Tourists visit places associated with ‘Ahilya Uddhar’ and ‘Tadaka Badh’ in Buxar.
Weavers of Nathnagar in Bhagalpur have donated specially designed ‘chadar’ to be gifted to the seers and priests at Ayodhya. A silver brick weighing 1.25 kg with ‘Ram Charan’ inscribed on it has been donated by the residents of Bodh Gaya after performing rituals at Vishnupad temple.
Deputy CM and senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi has urged people to celebrate ‘bhumi pujan’ at Ayodhya by lighting ‘diyas’ at their homes on Wednesday evening. BJP state chief Sanjay Jaiswal described the day as historic.