By Vyomesh Chitravansh
October 1868. The Varuna River was still in full spate, swollen by floodwaters and the heavy monsoon rains. Along its banks, a large gathering of the culturally conscious people of Kashi had assembled to watch the Ramleela.
In that day's episode, following the abduction of Sita, Hanuman was to cross the ocean and travel to Lanka in search of her. Lord Rama was bidding farewell to Hanuman, accompanied by Jambavan and the other members of the Vanara army. The entire gathering of Ramleela devotees was completely absorbed in the dialogue, emotion and atmosphere of the performance.
Suddenly, commotion arose at one side of the gathering.
It became known that an English priest, Father Macpherson, had arrived there accompanied by the British Collector and other officials. The dialogue and performance abruptly came to a halt. A fearful whispering spread among the assembled devotees.
Father Macpherson asked about the day's episode and began making sarcastic remarks about Indian culture. He mockingly said:
“Hanuman in the Ramayana crossed the entire sea. Will your Hanuman cross the Varuna?”
In the same spirit, the British Collector, heavily intoxicated, issued a threatening order:
“If your Hanuman cannot cross this little river, then from tomorrow this Ramleela will be stopped as a mere fraud.”
What happened next was extraordinary.
The priest's sarcasm and the Collector's threatening words stirred the blood of the man playing Hanuman. His face reddened with a mixture of helplessness born of subjugation and the dignity and valour associated with Hanuman.
He invoked the Lord in his heart and resolved to do something extraordinary. He approached the person playing Lord Rama and sought permission to cross the Varuna.
“Evamastu”—“So be it.”
The moment he heard these words, the actor portraying Hanuman gave a thunderous cry:
“Bolo Raja Ramchandra Ki Jai!”
And with a single leap, he crossed the Varuna.
The entire event happened in the blink of an eye.
For a moment, the assembled crowd stood stunned and speechless. Only after that brief moment did they fully comprehend what had happened. Then the entire gathering erupted:
“Pavanputra Mahavir Ji Ki Jai!”
“Raja Ramchandra Ki Jai!”
Thousands of people rushed towards the other bank of the Varuna, where the heroic Hanuman had fallen after making the leap. He was found there resting.
The devotees lifted him from the spot and brought him back.
It is said that Tekaram Ji, who had portrayed Hanuman on that historic occasion, remained alive until the Bharat Milap of Nati Imli. During the Bharat Milap, he experienced the divine presence of his chosen deity, Lord Rama, in the sacred tableau. Having attained a vision of the divine, he departed this world and surrendered himself at the feet of the Lord.
Following this incident, the British Government granted official recognition to the Ramleela and made special arrangements for it, including governmental resources and support.
The crown worn by Tekaram Ji when he crossed the river is still preserved and worshipped today. That crown is not merely an object of religious faith; it is regarded as a symbol of our faith and devotion, as well as the courage, valour and steadfastness of our ancestors.
This historic episode helps establish the profound importance of the Bharat Milap of Nati Imli.
The Bharat Milap of Nati Imli takes place on Ekadashi, the eleventh day of the bright fortnight of Ashwin, on the second day after Vijayadashami. It is one of the largest and most important fairs of Varanasi.
One of the most remarkable features of this Ramleela is that the entire performance is conducted without spoken dialogue. It consists primarily of sacred tableaux and gestures.
It is therefore often described as:
“The biggest gathering for the world's shortest tableau.”
The meeting of Rama and Bharata is completely without dialogue, yet intensely emotional. The actual moment of reunion lasts less than a minute—only a few seconds—while the crowd witnessing it has traditionally numbered more than five lakh people.
Megha Bhagat: The Founder of Bharat Milap
The Bharat Milap of Nati Imli was initiated by Megha Bhagat.
According to the information available to date, Megha Bhagat is regarded as the “Adi Pravartak”—the original pioneer—of Ramleela in Kashi. Although many people regard Goswami Tulsidas as the pioneer of Ramleela in Varanasi, it is widely accepted in the tradition that the Chitrakoot Ramleela was initiated by Megha Bhagat.
Megha Bhagat's original name was Narayan Das. He was an ardent devotee and devoted servant of Goswami Tulsidas.
When, in Samvat 1680, Goswami Tulsidas predicted his own departure from this world and indicated the date as Shravan Shukla Tritiya, Megha Bhagat became deeply distressed. He even prepared to take his own life before the death of his revered master.
Goswami Tulsidas counselled him at length and instructed him to surrender himself to Lord Hanuman. On the appointed date, Goswami Tulsidas departed from this world.
Even after Tulsidas's passing, Megha Bhagat's anguish did not subside, despite following his master's instruction and taking refuge in Lord Hanuman. He gave up both food and water.
One night, Mahavir Hanuman appeared to Bhagat Ji and instructed him to go to Ayodhya.
Without caring about the monsoon season or the difficult and dangerous journey, Bhagat Ji set out for Ayodhya that very night.
Upon reaching Ayodhya, he bathed in the Sarayu and sat down in meditation. Just then, two beautiful young boys came there playing. They placed their bows and arrows beside Megha Bhagat and said:
“Baba, please keep our bows and arrows. We will come back and take them.”
Morning passed, followed by afternoon and evening, and then night fell. Megha Bhagat continued waiting, but the two boys did not return.
Exhausted from his journey and having sat throughout the day, Bhagat Ji finally became slightly drowsy. In that brief state between waking and sleep, he heard a divine voice:
“In Kaliyuga, direct divine vision is exceedingly rare. Go to Kashi and organise a Leela. You will receive My divine darshan there during the Bharat Milap.”
Taking this as the indirect command of his chosen deity, Megha Bhagat immediately returned to Kashi.
He preserved the same two bows and arrows as a sacred “Nidhi”, or divine treasure, and began organising the Chitrakoot Ramleela. The Bharat Milap of this Ramleela takes place at Nati Imli.
Megha Bhagat remained alive until the Bharat Milap after initiating the Ramleela. During the Bharat Milap, he received the divine vision of his Lord in the form of the sacred reunion of Rama and Bharata.
Having attained the vision for which he had longed, Megha Bhagat departed this world and surrendered himself at the feet of the Lord.
Bharat Milap of Nati Imli: A Living Tradition of Kashi
This tradition is nearly 482 years old. Saint Megha Bhagat is believed to have laid the foundation of this Ramleela and the Bharat Milap around 1546. According to popular tradition, pleased with Megha Bhagat’s devotion, Lord Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna appeared before him in person at this very ground. Even today, devotees firmly believe that during those few sacred moments of the reunion, the Lord Himself becomes present here.
The world-famous Bharat Milap of Nati Imli in Varanasi is not merely a religious festival or a staging of the Ramleela. It is a living expression of the soul of Kashi, a resounding assertion of Indian courage against colonial rule, and an extraordinary manifestation of enduring popular faith.
Held on Ashwin Shukla Ekadashi, the second day after Vijayadashami, this festival occupies the foremost place among the famous Lakkha Melas of Banaras. It is often described as “the biggest gathering for the world’s shortest tableau.” The actual reunion lasts less than a minute—only a few intensely emotional, wordless moments—yet more than five lakh devotees have traditionally gathered to witness it.
In earlier times, after Ramnagar, this was the largest gathering on this side of the Ganga in Kashi. Today, however, under the influence of colonial ways of life and Western culture, much of that enormous popular participation has diminished and the gathering is increasingly dominated by traditional devotees and regular participants. Even so, the immense crowd that still gathers for Bharat Milap is enough to demonstrate the extraordinary importance of this tradition.
In this Chitrakoot Ramleela, besides Bharat Milap, three other events are particularly renowned—Shabari Mangal, the Girisumer tableau, and Vijayadashami. Shabari Mangal and the Girisumer tableau are held near Pishach Mochan Pond, beside Ramakant Nagar Colony, while Vijayadashami is celebrated at Chaukaghat, on the banks of the Varuna River.
In earlier times, after the killing of Ravana on Vijayadashami, the viman carrying Lord Rama was carried by the distinguished wealthy families of Kashi, dressed in their traditional attire. The Gujarati, Marwari and Rajasthani aristocratic families, each in their own regional dress, carrying the divine viman, followed by an immense multitude of spectators, gave the procession a unique splendour. The emotionally charged cries of “Bolo Raja Ramchandra Ji Ki Jai!” reflected the festive spirit of the people of Kashi. Sadly, much of that earlier grandeur is no longer visible.
One of the greatest social features of the Nati Imli Bharat Milap is that it dissolves distinctions of caste and class. The responsibility of carrying the enormous floral viman of Lord Rama, Lakshmana and Sita, weighing approximately five tonnes, traditionally rests with the Yadav community of Kashi, the Yadukul.
Thousands of Yadav devotees carry this massive viman on their shoulders with deep devotion. They traditionally appear with dark surma around their eyes, a safa or Banarasi turban on their heads, traditional dhoti, vest, and a Banarasi gamchha. As the viman moves and sways through the immense sea of devotees, it seems almost as if it is not moving on the ground at all, but floating above the heads of the people and through the air.
The Bharat Milap is also an extraordinary example of religious harmony and the meeting of the Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions. According to the traditional understanding, through this sacred ceremony the representative of Shiva welcomes the manifestation of Vishnu. The Kashi Naresh, regarded in Kashi as a representative of Lord Shiva, personally witnesses the Bharat Milap. He arrives at a specially constructed royal platform in full traditional splendour, accompanied by elephants, horses and the ceremonial retinue.
The scene appears symbolic: Lord Shiva Himself, in His own sacred city, is welcoming Lord Rama, the incarnation of Vishnu.
The principal attraction of the Nati Imli festival lasts only four or five minutes, but the preparations and anticipation continue for hours. The timing of the ceremony is extraordinarily precise. The actual reunion traditionally takes place at the moment when the evening sunlight falls at a particular angle—generally around 4:40 p.m.
As the floral Pushpak Viman moves from one corner of the ground towards the sacred platform, Bharata and Shatrughna run barefoot from the opposite side, raising clouds of dust. The moment they see Lord Rama, the two brothers fall flat on the ground in complete prostration.
Amid the melodious singing of the Ramcharitmanas verses—
“Pare bhumi nahi uthata uthaye,
Bar kari kripasindhu ura laaye.
Syamal gaat roma bhaye thadhe,
Nava rajeeva nayana jala badhe…”
Lord Rama runs forward and embraces Bharata to His chest.
The embrace of the four brothers is so vivid, pure and deeply emotional that the eyes of countless people in the gathering fill with tears. Devotees experience in this tableau the living presence of Lord Rama and His four brothers.
At that very moment, the entire sky reverberates with the thunderous cries of “Har Har Mahadev!” and “Jai Shri Ram!” People embrace one another, while clouds of abir and gulal fill the air.
At the moment of the reunion, on one side rises the cry of “Raja Ramchandra Ji Ki Jai!”, while on the other the sacred invocation of “Har Har Mahadev!” echoes across the sky. The two traditions appear to merge into one—Rama and Shiva, Vaishnava devotion and Shaiva faith, becoming inseparable expressions of Kashi.
In 1796, the then Kashi Naresh, Udit Narayan Singh, began the formal royal participation in this celebration. Since then, the Kashi Naresh family has continued to preserve this centuries-old royal and cultural tradition. Even today, Kunwar Anant Narayan Singh witnesses the ceremony with the traditional royal splendour, elephants and ceremonial entourage.
Several families have remained associated with the arrangements of the Chitrakoot Ramleela for generations. The jeweller family of Varanasi—Lakhna Lal Johri and Sanjeev Lal Johri—has, for several generations, been responsible for decorating the sacred wooden platform (chaura/chauki) where the four brothers meet.
The platform is decorated with velvet cloth, jasmine and marigold flowers, and sacred tulsi leaves. After the Bharat Milap, devotees respectfully take the tulsi offered there back to their homes as a sacred blessing and mahaprasad.
The Bharat Milap of Nati Imli is not merely a religious festival. In today's age of consumerism and increasingly fragmented families, it conveys a profound moral message to society. It reminds us that the love and sacrifice of a brother stand above power, wealth and material grandeur.
The character of Bharata and Rama's profound affection for him represent the very foundation of family values. Amid the dazzling attractions of modernity, Kashi has preserved this tradition for more than 480 years. It remains a powerful means of connecting the younger generation with its roots and with its glorious cultural heritage.
During this festival, there is no distinction between the rich and the poor, the king and the commoner, or one caste and another. The whole of Kashi becomes immersed in one shared colour—the colour of Rama and Shiva.
Today, neither Tulsidas nor Megha Bhagat nor Tekaram remains among us. What remains are their enduring fame and legacy, visible in the extraordinary love of the people of Kashi for Ramleela.
There is a pressing need to give Bharat Milap of Nati Imli a prominent place in the cultural and tourist itinerary of Varanasi, along with adequate financial and institutional support. Such recognition and assistance would help the people of Kashi preserve and carry forward this magnificent tradition for generations to come.
Kashi,
5 October 2026, Monday
http://chitravansh.blogspot.com
In that day's episode, following the abduction of Sita, Hanuman was to cross the ocean and travel to Lanka in search of her. Lord Rama was bidding farewell to Hanuman, accompanied by Jambavan and the other members of the Vanara army. The entire gathering of Ramleela devotees was completely absorbed in the dialogue, emotion and atmosphere of the performance.
Suddenly, commotion arose at one side of the gathering.
It became known that an English priest, Father Macpherson, had arrived there accompanied by the British Collector and other officials. The dialogue and performance abruptly came to a halt. A fearful whispering spread among the assembled devotees.
Father Macpherson asked about the day's episode and began making sarcastic remarks about Indian culture. He mockingly said:
“Hanuman in the Ramayana crossed the entire sea. Will your Hanuman cross the Varuna?”
In the same spirit, the British Collector, heavily intoxicated, issued a threatening order:
“If your Hanuman cannot cross this little river, then from tomorrow this Ramleela will be stopped as a mere fraud.”
What happened next was extraordinary.
The priest's sarcasm and the Collector's threatening words stirred the blood of the man playing Hanuman. His face reddened with a mixture of helplessness born of subjugation and the dignity and valour associated with Hanuman.
He invoked the Lord in his heart and resolved to do something extraordinary. He approached the person playing Lord Rama and sought permission to cross the Varuna.
“Evamastu”—“So be it.”
The moment he heard these words, the actor portraying Hanuman gave a thunderous cry:
“Bolo Raja Ramchandra Ki Jai!”
And with a single leap, he crossed the Varuna.
The entire event happened in the blink of an eye.
For a moment, the assembled crowd stood stunned and speechless. Only after that brief moment did they fully comprehend what had happened. Then the entire gathering erupted:
“Pavanputra Mahavir Ji Ki Jai!”
“Raja Ramchandra Ki Jai!”
Thousands of people rushed towards the other bank of the Varuna, where the heroic Hanuman had fallen after making the leap. He was found there resting.
The devotees lifted him from the spot and brought him back.
It is said that Tekaram Ji, who had portrayed Hanuman on that historic occasion, remained alive until the Bharat Milap of Nati Imli. During the Bharat Milap, he experienced the divine presence of his chosen deity, Lord Rama, in the sacred tableau. Having attained a vision of the divine, he departed this world and surrendered himself at the feet of the Lord.
Following this incident, the British Government granted official recognition to the Ramleela and made special arrangements for it, including governmental resources and support.
The crown worn by Tekaram Ji when he crossed the river is still preserved and worshipped today. That crown is not merely an object of religious faith; it is regarded as a symbol of our faith and devotion, as well as the courage, valour and steadfastness of our ancestors.
This historic episode helps establish the profound importance of the Bharat Milap of Nati Imli.
The Bharat Milap of Nati Imli takes place on Ekadashi, the eleventh day of the bright fortnight of Ashwin, on the second day after Vijayadashami. It is one of the largest and most important fairs of Varanasi.
One of the most remarkable features of this Ramleela is that the entire performance is conducted without spoken dialogue. It consists primarily of sacred tableaux and gestures.
It is therefore often described as:
“The biggest gathering for the world's shortest tableau.”
The meeting of Rama and Bharata is completely without dialogue, yet intensely emotional. The actual moment of reunion lasts less than a minute—only a few seconds—while the crowd witnessing it has traditionally numbered more than five lakh people.
Megha Bhagat: The Founder of Bharat Milap
The Bharat Milap of Nati Imli was initiated by Megha Bhagat.
According to the information available to date, Megha Bhagat is regarded as the “Adi Pravartak”—the original pioneer—of Ramleela in Kashi. Although many people regard Goswami Tulsidas as the pioneer of Ramleela in Varanasi, it is widely accepted in the tradition that the Chitrakoot Ramleela was initiated by Megha Bhagat.
Megha Bhagat's original name was Narayan Das. He was an ardent devotee and devoted servant of Goswami Tulsidas.
When, in Samvat 1680, Goswami Tulsidas predicted his own departure from this world and indicated the date as Shravan Shukla Tritiya, Megha Bhagat became deeply distressed. He even prepared to take his own life before the death of his revered master.
Goswami Tulsidas counselled him at length and instructed him to surrender himself to Lord Hanuman. On the appointed date, Goswami Tulsidas departed from this world.
Even after Tulsidas's passing, Megha Bhagat's anguish did not subside, despite following his master's instruction and taking refuge in Lord Hanuman. He gave up both food and water.
One night, Mahavir Hanuman appeared to Bhagat Ji and instructed him to go to Ayodhya.
Without caring about the monsoon season or the difficult and dangerous journey, Bhagat Ji set out for Ayodhya that very night.
Upon reaching Ayodhya, he bathed in the Sarayu and sat down in meditation. Just then, two beautiful young boys came there playing. They placed their bows and arrows beside Megha Bhagat and said:
“Baba, please keep our bows and arrows. We will come back and take them.”
Morning passed, followed by afternoon and evening, and then night fell. Megha Bhagat continued waiting, but the two boys did not return.
Exhausted from his journey and having sat throughout the day, Bhagat Ji finally became slightly drowsy. In that brief state between waking and sleep, he heard a divine voice:
“In Kaliyuga, direct divine vision is exceedingly rare. Go to Kashi and organise a Leela. You will receive My divine darshan there during the Bharat Milap.”
Taking this as the indirect command of his chosen deity, Megha Bhagat immediately returned to Kashi.
He preserved the same two bows and arrows as a sacred “Nidhi”, or divine treasure, and began organising the Chitrakoot Ramleela. The Bharat Milap of this Ramleela takes place at Nati Imli.
Megha Bhagat remained alive until the Bharat Milap after initiating the Ramleela. During the Bharat Milap, he received the divine vision of his Lord in the form of the sacred reunion of Rama and Bharata.
Having attained the vision for which he had longed, Megha Bhagat departed this world and surrendered himself at the feet of the Lord.
Bharat Milap of Nati Imli: A Living Tradition of Kashi
This tradition is nearly 482 years old. Saint Megha Bhagat is believed to have laid the foundation of this Ramleela and the Bharat Milap around 1546. According to popular tradition, pleased with Megha Bhagat’s devotion, Lord Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna appeared before him in person at this very ground. Even today, devotees firmly believe that during those few sacred moments of the reunion, the Lord Himself becomes present here.
The world-famous Bharat Milap of Nati Imli in Varanasi is not merely a religious festival or a staging of the Ramleela. It is a living expression of the soul of Kashi, a resounding assertion of Indian courage against colonial rule, and an extraordinary manifestation of enduring popular faith.
Held on Ashwin Shukla Ekadashi, the second day after Vijayadashami, this festival occupies the foremost place among the famous Lakkha Melas of Banaras. It is often described as “the biggest gathering for the world’s shortest tableau.” The actual reunion lasts less than a minute—only a few intensely emotional, wordless moments—yet more than five lakh devotees have traditionally gathered to witness it.
In earlier times, after Ramnagar, this was the largest gathering on this side of the Ganga in Kashi. Today, however, under the influence of colonial ways of life and Western culture, much of that enormous popular participation has diminished and the gathering is increasingly dominated by traditional devotees and regular participants. Even so, the immense crowd that still gathers for Bharat Milap is enough to demonstrate the extraordinary importance of this tradition.
In this Chitrakoot Ramleela, besides Bharat Milap, three other events are particularly renowned—Shabari Mangal, the Girisumer tableau, and Vijayadashami. Shabari Mangal and the Girisumer tableau are held near Pishach Mochan Pond, beside Ramakant Nagar Colony, while Vijayadashami is celebrated at Chaukaghat, on the banks of the Varuna River.
In earlier times, after the killing of Ravana on Vijayadashami, the viman carrying Lord Rama was carried by the distinguished wealthy families of Kashi, dressed in their traditional attire. The Gujarati, Marwari and Rajasthani aristocratic families, each in their own regional dress, carrying the divine viman, followed by an immense multitude of spectators, gave the procession a unique splendour. The emotionally charged cries of “Bolo Raja Ramchandra Ji Ki Jai!” reflected the festive spirit of the people of Kashi. Sadly, much of that earlier grandeur is no longer visible.
One of the greatest social features of the Nati Imli Bharat Milap is that it dissolves distinctions of caste and class. The responsibility of carrying the enormous floral viman of Lord Rama, Lakshmana and Sita, weighing approximately five tonnes, traditionally rests with the Yadav community of Kashi, the Yadukul.
Thousands of Yadav devotees carry this massive viman on their shoulders with deep devotion. They traditionally appear with dark surma around their eyes, a safa or Banarasi turban on their heads, traditional dhoti, vest, and a Banarasi gamchha. As the viman moves and sways through the immense sea of devotees, it seems almost as if it is not moving on the ground at all, but floating above the heads of the people and through the air.
The Bharat Milap is also an extraordinary example of religious harmony and the meeting of the Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions. According to the traditional understanding, through this sacred ceremony the representative of Shiva welcomes the manifestation of Vishnu. The Kashi Naresh, regarded in Kashi as a representative of Lord Shiva, personally witnesses the Bharat Milap. He arrives at a specially constructed royal platform in full traditional splendour, accompanied by elephants, horses and the ceremonial retinue.
The scene appears symbolic: Lord Shiva Himself, in His own sacred city, is welcoming Lord Rama, the incarnation of Vishnu.
The principal attraction of the Nati Imli festival lasts only four or five minutes, but the preparations and anticipation continue for hours. The timing of the ceremony is extraordinarily precise. The actual reunion traditionally takes place at the moment when the evening sunlight falls at a particular angle—generally around 4:40 p.m.
As the floral Pushpak Viman moves from one corner of the ground towards the sacred platform, Bharata and Shatrughna run barefoot from the opposite side, raising clouds of dust. The moment they see Lord Rama, the two brothers fall flat on the ground in complete prostration.
Amid the melodious singing of the Ramcharitmanas verses—
“Pare bhumi nahi uthata uthaye,
Bar kari kripasindhu ura laaye.
Syamal gaat roma bhaye thadhe,
Nava rajeeva nayana jala badhe…”
Lord Rama runs forward and embraces Bharata to His chest.
The embrace of the four brothers is so vivid, pure and deeply emotional that the eyes of countless people in the gathering fill with tears. Devotees experience in this tableau the living presence of Lord Rama and His four brothers.
At that very moment, the entire sky reverberates with the thunderous cries of “Har Har Mahadev!” and “Jai Shri Ram!” People embrace one another, while clouds of abir and gulal fill the air.
At the moment of the reunion, on one side rises the cry of “Raja Ramchandra Ji Ki Jai!”, while on the other the sacred invocation of “Har Har Mahadev!” echoes across the sky. The two traditions appear to merge into one—Rama and Shiva, Vaishnava devotion and Shaiva faith, becoming inseparable expressions of Kashi.
In 1796, the then Kashi Naresh, Udit Narayan Singh, began the formal royal participation in this celebration. Since then, the Kashi Naresh family has continued to preserve this centuries-old royal and cultural tradition. Even today, Kunwar Anant Narayan Singh witnesses the ceremony with the traditional royal splendour, elephants and ceremonial entourage.
Several families have remained associated with the arrangements of the Chitrakoot Ramleela for generations. The jeweller family of Varanasi—Lakhna Lal Johri and Sanjeev Lal Johri—has, for several generations, been responsible for decorating the sacred wooden platform (chaura/chauki) where the four brothers meet.
The platform is decorated with velvet cloth, jasmine and marigold flowers, and sacred tulsi leaves. After the Bharat Milap, devotees respectfully take the tulsi offered there back to their homes as a sacred blessing and mahaprasad.
The Bharat Milap of Nati Imli is not merely a religious festival. In today's age of consumerism and increasingly fragmented families, it conveys a profound moral message to society. It reminds us that the love and sacrifice of a brother stand above power, wealth and material grandeur.
The character of Bharata and Rama's profound affection for him represent the very foundation of family values. Amid the dazzling attractions of modernity, Kashi has preserved this tradition for more than 480 years. It remains a powerful means of connecting the younger generation with its roots and with its glorious cultural heritage.
During this festival, there is no distinction between the rich and the poor, the king and the commoner, or one caste and another. The whole of Kashi becomes immersed in one shared colour—the colour of Rama and Shiva.
Today, neither Tulsidas nor Megha Bhagat nor Tekaram remains among us. What remains are their enduring fame and legacy, visible in the extraordinary love of the people of Kashi for Ramleela.
There is a pressing need to give Bharat Milap of Nati Imli a prominent place in the cultural and tourist itinerary of Varanasi, along with adequate financial and institutional support. Such recognition and assistance would help the people of Kashi preserve and carry forward this magnificent tradition for generations to come.
Kashi,
5 October 2026, Monday
http://chitravansh.blogspot.com
