Ayodhya Dresses Every Road for Ram's Return
Bala Kanda, Chaupai 341
Doha 344 · Movement 1 of 2
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Great drums, kettledrums, conches, cymbals, horns, and shehnais announce the approaching procession. Horses neigh, elephants trumpet, and citizens pour from Ayodhya singing, their bodies thrilled by the news that Ram has returned.
Every household adorns its frontage. Markets, crossroads, lanes, and gates are washed with fragrant sandalwood water and filled with patterned squares. Torana arches, banners, flags, and canopies lift colour above the streets.
Coconut, betel nut, banana, mango, bakula, kadamba, and tamala trees line the way, their bases set in gemmed enclosures. The city does not wait passively for darshan. It reshapes its public body into welcome, making every road a ceremonial path toward the palace and every threshold an offering to the returning couples.
From gate to courtyard, Ayodhya becomes one continuous avenue of fragrance, colour, and welcome.
Read the passage from the Manas
हने निसान पनव बर बाजे। भेरि संख धुनि हय गय गाजे।। झाँझि बिरव डिंडमीं सुहाई। सरस राग बाजहिं सहनाई।। पुर जन आवत अकनि बराता। मुदित सकल पुलकावलि गाता।। निज निज सुंदर सदन सँवारे। हाट बाट चौहट पुर द्वारे।। गलीं सकल अरगजाँ सिंचाई। जहँ तहँ चौकें चारु पुराई।। बना बजारु न जाइ बखाना। तोरन केतु पताक बिताना।। सफल पूगफल कदलि रसाला। रोपे बकुल कदंब तमाला।। लगे सुभग तरु परसत धरनी। मनिमय आलबाल कल करनी।।
Great drums and kettledrums were sounded. War drums and conch shells resounded as horses and elephants trumpeted. Cymbals, horns, and the sweet dindimee drums rang out. Melodious ragas poured from the shehnais. Hearing the baraat approach, the people of the city came forth. All were overjoyed, their bodies thrilling with ecstasy as they sang. Every household adorned its own beautiful home. The markets, roads, crossroads, and city gates were all decorated. Every lane was sprinkled with fragrant sandalwood water (aragaja). Here and there, lovely squares were filled with ornamental designs. The splendour of the bazaar was beyond all description. Festive torana arches, banners, flags, and canopies were raised. Fruit-bearing coconut palms, betel nut trees, banana plants, and mango trees were set in place. Bakula, kadamba, and tamala trees were planted. Graceful trees stood touching the earth, their bases set in gem-studded enclosures of exquisite craftsmanship.