Janakpurdham, Dec. 28: For the first time since the Treta Yuga, Nepal is going to send a Bhar (food and non-food items gifted to married daughters and their in-laws) to India on behalf of her daughter Sita. A team of 251 people, led by Ram Roshan Das, successor to the Mahanth (head priest) of the Janaki Temple, will be travelling from Nepal’s Janakpurdham to India’s Ayodhya with the Bhar next month on the latter’s invitation. They shall be going to Ayodhya, India, to attend the inauguration of the newly built Ram Temple there on January 22, 2024.

In Mithila, it is customary for a family to send jewellery, clothes and food to their married daughter, her husband and her husband’s family when she and her in-laws move into a new house. In line with this tradition, Janakpurdham’s Janaki Temple will be sending the Bhar to Sita and her husband Ram, informed Das. He also appealed to the residents of Janakpur to help arrange things like fruits to gift to India.

The Nepali team is scheduled to leave for Ayodhya on January 4. So, he urged everyone to send their items by January 3. He also requested people to put the items in a bamboo basket and write their names on the outside. If everything goes as planned, the team will reach Ayodhya on January 5 and will hand over the Bhar to the Ram Temple Trust a day later at 9 in the morning.

A team from Nepal, led by Janaki Temple’s Mahanth Ram Tapeshwor Das, had gone to Ayodhya in 2020 too to participate in the Ram Temple’s ground-breaking ceremony. At the time, they had taken soil from Janakpur and five silver bricks.

Mahanth not participating

Janaki Temple’s Mahanth Ram Tapeshwor Das, however, has said that he will not be part of the Bhar­-gifting group.  “I will take as much as I can but I am not part of the Bhar team,” he said, clarifying that his decision was based on Janakpur’s apparent lack of coordination with Ayodhya. “In our last trip, the people of Ayodhya welcomed us with open arms. But, at the [Ram Temple] site itself, security was so tight that not even a bird could fly in without the [Ram Temple] Trust’s permission.”

“So, it might not be appropriate for us to send a grand Bhar from here without first consulting with the Indian side. I would urge everyone involved to first understand the ground situation there,” he explained his stance.

But, successor Ram Roshan Das maintained that it was a matter of pride for everyone in Janakpurdham to be representing Lord Ram’s in-laws and presenting him with the special Bhar during the inauguration of his temple. “This is not merely a ceremony for the Janaki Temple. This is an occasion for the entire Mithilanchal,” he said.

Speaking at a press conference organised at the Janaki Temple on Tuesday, he informed that the entire function was being coordinated by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) so there was no need to worry. VHP officials as well as representatives from the Janakpurdham Sub-Metropolitan City were also present at the conference. Meanwhile, Janakpurdham’s Mayor Manoj Kumar Sah said that the Nepali team had been given half an hour to present the ­Bhar and that Ayodhya was eager to welcome Lord Ram’s in-laws. He also asked all to refrain from bringing the holy Janaki Temple into controversy.