DHANUSHA: The weeklong revered Sitaram Bibaha Panchami festival celebrated every year in Janakpurdham is commencing from today with the observance of the ‘nagar darshan’ rituals.

All preparations have been completed for the grand religious cum cultural festival, the Janaki Temple Management Committee has stated. Works from cleaning to the construction of attractive tents and pavilions have been carried out in the Janaki Temple area, Rangabhumi ground and Bahrabigha premises.

These sacred places have been decorated and attractive colourful lights have also been installed. The main rituals associated with the Bibah Panchami festival will take place at the Janaki Temple and the Bahrabigaha Rangabhumi ground.

Temple priest Mahantha Ramroshan said that none of the three tiers of the government has provided assistance for organizing the festival this year.

He said that in previous years, government agencies provided financial or managerial support, but this time no support was received.

The Janaki Temple Management Committee has stated that a large number of sadhus, holymen, saints, ascetics, monks and nuns are expected to arrive here from various religious centres in India, including Ayodhya, Rishikesh and Haridwar this year.

This festival, one of the main religious events in Janakpurdham which is known as the cultural capital of Mithila, has been a major means of strengthening Nepal–India religious relations for years.

Various religious and cultural rituals are held as part of this festival.

These rituals include – the ‘nagar darshan’ ritual taking place today, the ‘phoolbari leela’ ritual on Friday, the ‘dhanush yagya’ ritual on November 22, the ’tilakotsav’ ritual on November 23, the ‘matkor’ ritual on November 24, the ‘swoyambar and subha bibah’ rituals on November 25 and the ‘Ramkalewa’ ritual on November 26.

Every year, on the fifth day of the waxing moon in Mangsir month, thousands of devotees from various parts of Nepal and India visit Janakpurdham to celebrate this festival.

Chief District Officer Prem Prasad Luintel said the security plan has been tightened targeting the large sea of people attending the Bibah Panchami festival.

He stated that a sufficient number of Nepal Police, Armed Police, and Traffic Police will be deployed considering the large crowd.