Shadow Correspondent
Jammu Oct 16 :
The sixth night of Navratra Festival of Lakshmi Narayan Templewas dedicated to Holy Ramayana whose scenes were displayed most colourfully last night by the students of Rich Harvest School, Bari Brahmina. It was the grand finale of the Festival which has evoked appreciable response from the devotees and other residents of Gandhinagar.
In a short duration of twenty minutes, the School team enacted the important scenes of the Ramayana from Sita sabhamvorto the annihilation of Ravana, victory of good over evil, in the backdrop of verses from the great epic of Hindu.All these characters came in original costumes. The students who played these scenes almost like Ram Lila in fast-mode, presented important characters of the epic including Lord Rama, Lakshman, Goddess Sita, Lord Hanuman, Saroopnakha, and Ravana.
Though there was a panel of judges to grade the performances of different artists but the outstanding performance of individual artists as well as collectively, of the students of Rich Harvest School left none in the audience to doubt about the winner of last night contest. The school was unanimously declared first in this unique competition.
The solo performance of a student of Dogra Higher Secondary School, Shastrinagar was adjudged second. He played the role of Ravana who by his worship had taken the blessings of immortality that led to his downfall and ultimately death at the hands of Lord Rama.
Motivated by the environment created by these scenes, some among the audience came forward to sing bhajan.
The Secretary of Lakshmi Narayan Temple Management Trust, S C Rekhi who announced the awards, gave a brief account of the objective of Navratra Festival.
The President of the Trust, Th. Gulchain Singh Charak lauded the performance of all artists in the Festival and said that despite terminal exams in most of the Schools nowadays, the Festival was a grand success, both in terms of participation of students and audience. He said that Navratra Festival has almost become an annual feature and every year new competitions are included to involve the young mind in religious fold that alone can guarantee revival of moral values in our society.
Charak also spoke about the growth of Lakshmi Narayan Temple Complex over the years and said that it is undoubtedly one of the best managed Shrines of northern India. He mentioned recent addition of two important temples in to the Complex- Shriyantar and Navghreh temple and Lord Shani temple.
Members of the Trust, teachers of the participating schools and large number of devotee s witnessed Ramayana Scenes.
