EntertainmentPosted at: Oct 23 2026 1:14PM


From Lalapur to Bithoor, UP to bring Ramayana Alive at its Heritage Sites

Lucknow, Oct 23 (UNI) Places that preserve the Ramayana’s legacy will become settings for its retelling this Valmiki Jayanti, as Uttar Pradesh prepares cultural programmes across all 75 districts on October 26.
From Maharishi Valmiki’s taposthali at Lalapur in Chitrakoot to the Valmiki ashrams at Bithoor and Shravasti, the celebrations will bring together sacred sites, local performers and community participation.
Hundreds of temples associated with Valmiki, Lord Ram, Hanuman and the Ramayana will host recitals, devotional music and lamp offerings. More than 600 temples participated last year, Tourism and Culture Minister Jaiveer Singh said.
At Lalapur, the programme will extend from the ashram to the riverbank. Chitrakoot Regional Tourism Officer D K Sharma said the district administration would organise Ramlila, Valmiki Ramayana readings, an evening of bhajans and folk devotional performances by local artists. Valmiki Aarti will be held on the banks of the Tamasa Ganga, also known locally as the Valmiki river. The annual observance draws thousands of devotees, he said.
Programmes will also be held at Tulsidas Ashram in Rajapur, Chitrakoot, and religious sites in Ayodhya and Prayagraj. Depending on the venue, continuous Valmiki Ramayana recitals will run for eight, 12 or 24 hours. Episodes from the lives of Luv and Kush, puja and havan will form part of the observances.
Mr Singh said the celebrations would highlight the connection between the epic and the places associated with its traditions. Around 280 sites across India, including several in Uttar Pradesh, are associated with the Ram Janaki and Ram Van Gaman routes, he said.
“Valmiki’s Ramayana is a defining work of Indian literature and culture. Through these programmes, we aim to honour his legacy and carry its messages of compassion, social harmony and shared values to people through wider public participation,” Singh said.
Each district will receive ₹1 lakh specifically for artists’ honorariums, taking the statewide allocation to ₹75 lakh through District Tourism and Culture Councils. Other arrangements will be supported through corporate social responsibility contributions mobilised by district administrations.
Committees at district, tehsil and development block levels will oversee preparations. District magistrates will chair the committees selecting venues and artists, with coordination among the Culture Department, Information and Public Relations Department, and District Tourism and Culture Councils. Local elected representatives will be invited, with emphasis on community participation.
Venue addresses, photographs, GPS locations and temple management contacts, along with participating artists’ details, will be recorded on the Culture Department portal.
District administrations have also been directed to arrange cleanliness, drinking water, security, sound and lighting, and ensure copies of the Ramayana are available for uninterrupted recitals.
UNI MBD ARN
Tags: #From Lalapur to Bithoor# UP to bring Ramayana Alive at its Heritage Sites
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