Ayodhya Dresses Every Street for Ram's Wedding
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 293
Doha 296 · Movement 1 of 2
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The messengers depart in fine garments as drums thunder the news. Celebration begins in every house, and the fourteen worlds fill with delight at the wedding of Janaka's daughter and the hero of Raghu.
Ayodhya is always beautiful, sacred, and auspicious as Ram's city, yet love desires to adorn even perfection. Roads, homes, lanes, and markets receive flags, banners, silk, whisks, golden vessels, arches, and nets of jewels.
Turmeric, durva grass, curd, unbroken rice, and garlands bring the intimacy of rite among the splendour. The city does not decorate because it was lacking. Love adds beauty to beauty for the joy of offering, making every familiar street announce that its beloved prince will return as bridegroom.
Ayodhya needs no ornament, yet love cannot resist adorning the city of Ram.
Read the passage from the Manas
कहत चले पहिरें पट नाना। हरषि हने गहगहे निसाना।। समाचार सब लोगन्ह पाए। लागे घर घर होने बधाए।। भुवन चारि दस भरा उछाहू। जनकसुता रघुबीर बिआहू।। सुनि सुभ कथा लोग अनुरागे। मग गृह गलीं सँवारन लागे।। जद्यपि अवध सदैव सुहावनि। राम पुरी मंगलमय पावनि।। तदपि प्रीति कै प्रीति सुहाई। मंगल रचना रची बनाई।। ध्वज पताक पट चामर चारु। छावा परम बिचित्र बजारू।। कनक कलस तोरन मनि जाला। हरद दूब दधि अच्छत माला।।
The messengers set forth proclaiming the news, dressed in fine garments of every kind. Joyfully, the great drums (nisaana) thundered out. All the people of the city received the wonderful tidings. In every home, celebrations began. All the fourteen worlds (bhuvan chaari das) were filled with rejoicing at the wedding of Janaka's daughter (Janakasutaa) with the hero of Raghu's line (Raghubeer). Hearing the auspicious story, the people overflowed with love. They began adorning the roads, homes, and lanes. Though Ayodhya was always beautiful, being Rama's city, sacred and brimming with auspiciousness, still, moved by love's own sweetness (preeti kai preeti), they fashioned fresh and lovely festive decorations. Splendid flags, banners, silk cloths, and chamaras were displayed. The markets were adorned in the most wondrous manner. Golden vessels (kanak kalas), festive arches (toran), garlands of jewels, turmeric, sacred durva grass, curd, and unbroken rice (achchhat) were all arranged.