festivals

Dassehra Dashara is celebrated all over India as the death of Ravana at the hands of Prabhu Ramchandra.It is the symbol of victory of sacred forces over the evil powers.Ramtek has marked this festival with a distinguish touch.Unlike other town the statue of ‘Ravana’ is not burnt here but it is attacked by ‘Ram Sena’ and  killed into pieces .The statue of Ravana is beheded every year on the border of Ramtek near Manapur-Bhojapur village.The procession of the army of Prabhu Ramchandra starts right from Gadmandir to the ‘Dashara Maidan’  spot.This army is armd with variety of ‘Akhadas’.The adventurous youth demonstrate their skills in the use of arms on the beats of Drams and Dhols.This army is lead by the authorize flags of Gadmandir Sasthan locally known as ‘Nishanis’.On reaching Dashara maidan this Ram sena came face to face with the statues of Ravana.Thousands and thousands people are present in a mammoth crowed when Ravana along with his sister ‘Surpankha’ is behaded.The entire stay is full of slogan of ‘Jai Shri Ram’.Ths comman folk also attack the remains of Ravanas clay formed body.The Ramsena returns to Gadmandir with the head of Ravana.The ‘Nishanis’ are worshiped door to door on their return journey.Its the crossinf of border i.e. Simolanghan  in its true sense.People say that the same tradition is still going on at ‘Ayodhya’ and ‘Ramtek’ only.

Mandai The traditional festival in Ramtek of Kartik Poornima is celebrated with Mandai Mohatsav.Many local and people from near by villeges takes part in Mandai.Dandar,Zaki,Folk Dance etc. are special attraction.

Navratra As per the tradition of  Navaratri is growing in Maharashtra,Ramtek is no exception to it. Various  temples of several forms of Goddesses celebrate ‘Navaratri-Parva’.Among them the notable are ‘Maa Kalanka’,’Kumarika Mata’,’Bramhi Mata’,’Chhaya Pari’,’Maya pari’,’Renuka Mata’,’Bableshwari’ etc.The town has glimpse of pomp and show due to colour lighting and enthusiastic arrangements of ‘Rassgarba’. To the north of town there is ‘Kalanka Mata’ temple with a tiger ridden goddess, marble idol with smiling face.This is form of Mahakali which is suppose to be changed  it’s facial expression according to time of the days.Every morning rays of the sun touches the feet of the idol.The old stone construction was reconstructed by a group active youth.The goddess is on the out skirt of town and she protects the town,is the faith of generations. ‘Gayatri Shakti peeth’ is  well known for it’s esthetic arrangement of decorated pictures  that are ‘Ghatas’.Devotees admire the lovely arrangement.’Kumarika Mata mandir ‘ is is situated about 100 feet deep bowdi.This bowdi is constructed in around 10 thousand sq. feet octagon size is the specimen of uncomparable architecture.In Navaratri the temple fetches maximum crowed of devotees in the same way there is a natural valley opposite to Kalidas memorial on Gadmandir.The temple is searched at the down most point of valley which is quite and mysterious place.People say tigers and leopard frequently  visited this place just a decade ago.This place is known as ‘Khowal’ and the goddess as ‘Bramhi Mata’.There are other temple as well like ‘Ma Bambleshwari’ which celebrate Navaratri festival with their distinguish touch.Those 10 days the entire town has colourfull festive mood.

RamNavami Ramjanam Festival is held in the month of chaitra (March-April) to celebrate the birthday of Lord Rama. The main attraction of this very popular and religious festival of Nagpur is the Rath yatra – the chariot procession by taking the idol of Lord Rama from the Shri Ram Temple. The procession starts with cultural events include skating of youngsters in traditional dresses, performances of tribal dancers, devotees wearing masks of different Gods like Ganesh and Hanuman, young boys and girls wearing traditional clothes and march in front of the chariot. The procession moves to all the major parts of the city and returns and conclude at the starting place, i.e at Ram Mandir. People from different parts of the region gathered on the streets to attend and celebrate the festival with great enthusiasm and brotherhood.

Shobha Yatra Every year Shobhayatra is organized.Peopels all over from villages and local participate in Yatra.They tell the soscial messeges and brings awareness amongs the people.Folk dance,Rawan Dahan,Droupadi Chirharan,Farmer suisides ets. are the major attraction in Yatra. All these Zakies later gathers in Ramtalai ground where the best performance Zaki is awarded by celebrities.Till now Mukesh Khanna,Shakti Kapur,Jonny liver,Raja Murad and many more came here.

Tripur pornima Kartika Poornima (Kartika purnima) is a Hindu, Jain and Sikh holy festival, celebrated on the Purnima (full moon) day or the fifteenth lunar day of Kartika (November–December). It is also known as Tripuri Poornima and Tripurari Poornima. It is sometimes called Deva-Diwali or Deva-Deepawali – the festival of lights of the gods. At the eve of Tripur(Kartik) Poornima Tripur is burnt at Temple sharp at 12:00 in mid night in Ramtek.Every where cracker and Rockets are burtn and people owe the Lord Rama to fullfill their will and expectation.People in the city also watch it and enjoy the moment. Tripuri Poornima or Tripurari Poornima derives its name from Tripurari – the foe of the demon Tripurasura. In some legends of Kartik Poornima, the term is used to denote the three demon sons of Tarakasur. Tripurari is an epithet of god Shiva. Shiva in his form as Tripurantaka (“Killer of Tripurasura”) killed Tripurasura on this day.Tripurasura had conquered the whole world and defeated the gods and also created three cities in space, together called “Tripura”. The killing of the demon(s) and destruction of his/their cities with a single arrow – by Shiva overjoyed the gods and they declared the day as a festival of illuminations. This day is also called “Dev-Diwali” – the Diwali of the gods. Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights. Kartik poornima is also the birthday of Matsya, god Vishnu’s fish-incarnation (Avatar). It is also the birthday of Vrinda, the personification of the Tulsi plant and of Kartikeya, the god of war and son of Shiva. This day also is considered special for Radha, the lover of Krishna – Vishnu’s incarnation. It is believed that Krishna and Radha danced rasa and Krishna worshipped Radha on this day. This day is also dedicated to the pitrs, dead ancestors. Underhill believes that the origins of this festival may lie in ancient times, when a sacrifice called Shakamedhah was performed to attain victory over enemies. The festival has even more significance when the day falls in the nakshatra (lunar mansion) Krittika and is then called Maha Kartik. The nakshatra is Bharani, the results are stated to be special. If it is Rohini nakshatra, then the fruitful results are even much more. Any philanthropic act on this day is supposed to bring benefits and blessings equal to the performing of ten yajnas (sacrifices).

Kalidas Festival Kalidas Festival is celebrated annually at Ramtek in Nagpur for two days in the month of November. Organized by MTDC in association with the District Collectorate Office of Nagpur in Ramtek, this festival of Music, Dance and Drama is held to honour Kalidasa. Kalidas was a great Sanskrit poet and dramatist of India, renowned for his historical drama Shakuntalam, Kumaarasambhava , Ritusamhaara and for the epic poem Meghdoot alias Meghdootam. It is said that the picturesque Ramtek has inspired Kalidas to write his famous literary work, Meghdootam. During Kalidas festival, celebrities of music, dance and drama gathered here to perform their talent. The festival brings back memories of the golden period of the Vidarbha region. People from different parts of India come here to attend the festival with full enthusiasm.