In a long list of traditional fairs, festivals and religious occasions, there is one unique festival which stands apart from the rest – the Shravan Jhula Mela – celebrated every year in the Hindu month of Shravan (July/August).
Beautiful idols of of Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshmana. Photo Credit: Deepaaidasani / wikimedia
The Festival
Ayodhya is well known as the birthplace of Lord Rama. Strewn with hundreds of beautiful temples dedicated to the diety, the Shravan Jhula Mela celebrates Lord Rama and his consort Sita. Shravan or monsoon is the time when jhulas or swings are hung from fresh, green trees for young girls and women to swing and sing on. The fair is recognition of this playful spirit. During this time idols of Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshmana are brought out and placed on swings in temples. They are then taken to the beautiful Mani Parvat where special swings are strung up on trees for the gods. The idols are placed on the swings and devotees are allowed to rock the swing. The idols are then brought back to their respective temples.
The City of Temples
As a religious and spiritual city, Ayodhya is a favourite amongst priests, pilgrims and people on a spiritual journey. There are several beautiful and ancient temples that visitors can go to during their stay. Prominent among them is Ramkot, which is one of the most important places of worship in the city, particularly during Ram Navami. Another ancient temple worth visiting is the Nageshwarnatha Temple, said to have been constructed by one of Lord Rama’s sons. Other interesting and imposing temples, famous not only for their deities but also for their structural and architectural beauty include the massive Hanuman Garhi, Choti Chawni (made of beautiful white marble),
Kanak Bhawan (which contains idols of Lord Rama and Sita donning crowns made of gold) and Mani Parbat. There are also several other places of religious significance which are a must-visit such as Lakshamana Ghat, Surajkund, Guptar Ghat, Sita Ki Rasoi, Ramjan Bhoomi, Babri Masjid and Sugriv Parvat.
Ramkot is an important place of worship in Ayodhya. Photo Credit: Shikari7 / wikimedia
In & Around Ayodhya
There is no dearth of interesting places to visit around Ayodhya. There are several major towns and cities waiting to be explored such as Mathura, Vrindavan, Varanasi, Agra, Lucknow and Faizabad (the erstwhile capital of the kingdom of Awadh). Visitors seeking some adventure can head to wildlife sanctuaries such as Eagle’s Nest, Katarniaghat and Suhelwa, all of which can be reached either by train or air from the Amausi airport in Lucknow.