Ram-Janki vivah fete celebrated at Grayslake temple

The Hindu Mandir of Lake County at Grayslake, Illinois, which makes efforts to bring all Indian communities on one platform by organizing different religious and cultural events, celebrated Shri Ram Janaki Vivah Utsav on December 7 and 8 on a grand scale. 

The Vivah was celebrated by both South and North Indian Communities as kanya and var Paksh respectively. On December 7 evening, South Indians  led by Geetha (Godavari) Patil and Vandana Jhingan requested, in a traditional way, Sangeeta and Shammi Dhall to bring Shri Ram Baraat on December 8 at the temple.

All devotees, wearing South and North traditional dresses, especially men with special turbans, enjoyed the marriage procession by dancing to tunes of traditional drums and bells. Baraat poojan was performed by temple priest and welcomed by Kanya Paksh with beautifully decorated Kalashams and exchange of Uttariyas. 

Temple priests Pt. Anil Joshi Ji and pt. Ganesh Ji performed this Vivah in the Hindu traditional Vaidic way which comprises Var poojan, Hastamilap, Jayamala, Kanyadan, Gotrachar, Agni Phera, Mangala Sutra and Sindoor offering.  

Gouri poojan was carried out by Janakdulari by singing Jai Jai Mahishshura Mardhini Stotra. Dazzling Shiva Dhanush was broken by young children. Sapta Agni Pradakshan were performed by both side sponsors holding Shri Ram and Janaki one by one. 

Blessings and Phere songs were sung by Pt.  Joshi ji.  Devotional songs were also sung by Atwal, Ajay Ghai, Vishvanathan, and Rita Patel in between the different stages of marriage at the shrine which was filled with spirituality.

Pt. Joshi Ji explained the importance of Shri Ram Janaki Vivah in the present times. He said that Shri Ram symbolizes ‘Gyan’ and  Ma Janaki signifies ‘Bhakti’. Gyan is incomplete unless it merges with Bhakti. Shiva Dhanush denotes ‘ego’. Without winning over ego Gyan cannot merge with Bhakti. That is why Shiva Dhanush was broken by Ram first and then married with Janaki. 

Said Pt. Joshi Ji: "Each and every phase of Shri Ram’s  life speaks a lesson in Hindu dharma.  By celebrating Shri  Ram Janaki Vivah or Vivah Panchami Utsav as the marriage anniversary of Lord Rama and Ma Sita we not only remember his principles but also try to follow them in our life."

Archana, Bhoga, and Arati were performed by both priests and finally Janaki doli bidai was carried out with heartrending hearts. A touching Bidai song sung by Pt. Joshi Ji made everyone emotional. 

He also blessed and thanked all the sponsors from Kanya and Var Paksh, food spnsors namely Mousim Bhai,  Desi Needs, Gurnee; Guru, Aroma restaurant; Sanjay Bhandari, Peacok restaurant; and  Mikky, Spice Bazaar from the City of Vernon Hills for their contribution to the temple community to make the vivah utsav a grand success.