Vivah Panchmi

It is believed by the people, as also referred to in some sacred Sicriptures, tbat lord Rama was married to Sita on the fifth day (Panchmi) of the light fortnight of the month of Agrahan (December), which is called as Vivah panchmi and is celebrated every year. On this occasion the Rama temple at Janakpur remains very active. The temple management makes all arrangements for the marriage party e.g. arrange­ments of elephants, horses etc. On the fifth day of the light fortnight of Agrahan, a marriage party called Barat consisting of all the servants of the Rama temple, some prominent citizens of the city, Sanskrit Pandits and sadhus (ascetics) etc., start at about 2 P.M. from the Rama temple. The pro­cession is led by the royal chariot of Rama and Sita, and is followed by thousands of pilgrims assembled on this occasion. The occasion is marked for its humanization of sacred ele­ments. For, the idol of Rama is taken in the procession in exactly the same way as a bridegroom going for marriage.

The idol is believed to be the living embodiment of Rama; it is called the Dulha (bridegroom) Sarkar (lord). The drummers play their drums. When the barat of the Dulha Sarkar arrives at Rangbhum, it is received by the Mahanths, ascetics and other groups of pilgrims assembled there.
At Rangbhum the barat stays from 2.30 P.M. to about 6 P.M-, where the mock performance of Swembar is performed in which the sacred bow is broken and the story of the Ramayan is repeated. This is witnessed by the lakhs of pilgrims assembled there.

On this occasion many Rama-lila parties also perform the scenes of the Ramayan and the important lines from the Rama-charit manas are recited. Thus, on this day the main concentration of pilgrims is seen in and around Rangbhum where thousands of temporary shops and stands are erected.
In the evening when the barat return to the Rama temple, the marriage ceremony of Rama and Sita is performed on the marwa. The Pandits of the Rama temple conduct the marriage rites and for that they arc paid remuneration both in cash and kinds by the Guthi-santhal. On this occasion the Maithil ladies, who participate in this marriage ceremony in large numbers, sing various marriage songs and among them mention may be made of Parichhan, Gosaunik geet, Naina jogin, Sindurdan, Dahakan, Maheshvani,Swember.
On this occasion of Vivah-Panchmi, as well as on several other occasions the ascetic pilgrims belonging to both Vaishnava (or Bairagi) and Dandi Sanyasi sects, come to Janakpur and they are weU treated by the temple authorities of the respective sects;' For instance, while the Dandi Sanyasis are offered special food, and other gifts by the authorities of the Rama temple, for the Mahanths of Rama temple belong to the Giri order of the Dandi sampradai, the ascetic pilgrims of the Vaishnava sampradai are welcomed and entertained by the authorities of the Janki temple, as the chief priest, Mahanth of this temple bellmgs to that sampradai. However, on this
occa.ion the various kutis located in the various parts of this sacred city, come forward to accommodate the different types of pilgrims, where the performances of Vivah-Panchmi are
also observed with great pomp and show.
During the Vivah-Panchmi, the number of daily artis performed in the temple increases and it goes up to eleven and twelve. The Mahanths of Rama and lanki temples of Janakpur reported that during Vivah-Panchmi and such other occasions, except a few hours in the mid of night, the artis are performed approximately at every alternate hour round the clock.
On the fourth day after Vivah-Panchmi i,e. Navami, the Chaturthi kriya is performed in the Rama temple in which marriage rites are again performed on the marwa in the early hours of the dawn. This performance of the Chaturthi kriya is still observed among the Maithil Brahmins of North Bihar,and the Pandits of Mithila attach a great importance to the celebration of the Chaturthi day, for the consummation of marriage takes place only after the celebration of the Chaturthi
kriya.
During this period of four days i.e. from Panchmi to Navami, several other rituals are observed in the honour of the Dulha sarkar and they are offered khir (rice boiled in milk) and sprinkled on the bed, and after the last (sa van) arti, the doors of the temple are closed and the devotees believe that the Dulha-Sarkar would enjoy, the night with his consort Sita. Thus, the main ritual of Vivah-Panchmi ends with the Chaturthi kriya. However, the fairorganised on this occasion, continues for a week or even more. The ascetic pilgrims coming from different parts of India and Nepal generally remain there for a longer period, while the othel pilgnms leave Janakpur generally after the performance of the Chaturthi kriya.