Raipur: The Congress government in Chhattisgarh is organizing a state-level Ramayana recital competition at Shivirinarayan, a prominent pilgrimage centre, where Lord Ram had stayed during his 14-year exile. The contest – the first such organised by the government has started on April 8th, coinciding with the ongoing Navratri festival. Shivirinarayan, a land of mythology and spirituality, lies on the banks of Mahanadi in Janjgir Champa district, around 130 km from Raipur.
Ramayana Mandalis from across the state have participated in the competition and renowned artists will perform ‘Manas Gayan’ (recital of Ramcharitmanas) during the two-day event. As many as 350 artists from 25 districts of Chhattisgarh are scheduled to participate in the Ramayana recital competition. Baghel will present cash awards of Rs 5 lakh, Rs 3 lakh and Rs 2 lakh. “We plan to develop Shivirinarayan on the lines of Ayodhya chief minister Bhupesh Bagel told reporters after visiting the famous Mahamaya Devi Temple at Bilaspur on Wednesday.
According to the state’s cultural department, CM Baghel dedicated to the people the development works carried out at Shivirinarayan as part of the state government’s ambitious Ram Van Gaman Path, a tourism circuit connecting all the places visited by Lord Ram during his stay in this region. Baghel said the state government is developing nine places under the Ram Van Gaman Path project and Shivirinarayan is second on the list after the recent renovation of the ancient Mata Kaushalya Mandir, the only temple dedicated to the mother of Lord Ram, at Chandkhuri near Raipur.