Wed Oct 16 18:22:37 UTC 2024: ## Thousands Gather in Varanasi for Historic Bharat Milap Ceremony
**Varanasi, India (IANS):** Thousands of devotees flocked to the holy city of Varanasi on Sunday to witness the renowned Bharat Milap ceremony, a dramatic reenactment of the reunion of Lord Rama with his brother Bharat. The event, which takes place every year a day after Dussehra, is a spectacle lasting just five minutes but brimming with grandeur.
The Bharat Milap tradition in Varanasi is over 481 years old. It is believed that during the ceremony, Lord Rama, Lakshman, Bharat, and Shatrughn appear in person. The highlight of the event is the moment when the four brothers reunite at a designated platform in the city’s Naati Imli area. At the exact time, sunlight falls on the platform, and the brothers rush towards each other for an emotional embrace. The sheer magnificence of this scene reportedly brings tears to the eyes of witnesses.
This year, the event was graced by the presence of Kuwarn Anant Narayan Singh, a member of the Kashi royal family, who toured the area on an elephant. Local residents enthusiastically pulled the chariots carrying the deities, a tradition eagerly awaited by the city’s Yaduvanshi community. They donned white dhotis, red turbans, and kohl-lined eyes, providing support to the chariots amidst the rhythmic beat of drums and damru.
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First Piper 