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Agra , home to the seventh wonder of the world - The magnificent Taj Mahal is also quite known all over for its marvelous events and fairs showcasing ethnic arts, crafts and the liveliness of the town. One of the most illustrious of events is the Ram Barat that celebrates the marriage or wedding ceremony of the Hindu god Ram.
The city of Agra wears a festive look as it is geared up for the Ram Barat or Hindu god Ram's wedding procession. The marriage procession of Sri Ram is held every year during the Ramlila celebrations in Agra and each year a new locality of the town is chosen and is elaborately decorated and is made fit for holding a royal and pompous wedding. It is said that all these festivities revolving around this grand wedding and the wedding as well was started by Lala Kokamal who was a cloth merchant about 125 years ago. The 'barat' or wedding starts late Monday from the Ramlila ground passing through the main city streets with about 30 music bands belting out popular melodies. The procession is further enriched and completed with various animals like horses and richly caparisoned elephants. There are over 125 mobile floats depicting events of mythological importance. In Ram Barat there is a huge crowd of wedding enthusiasts all dressed up in their finest attire. There are actors dressed up as brothers Ram and Laxman. They are decked up in gold and silver ornaments and crowns. The entire area is decorated with fabulous lights and flowers and is accompanied by high decibel music that mainly consists of major Bollywood hits. The sheer scale and the grandness that is witnessed in this festival is simply unmatched and breathtaking. It attracts more people than any other festival that is celebrated in this part of the nation. It is a like a humongous fete where people come to eat, shop, drink and also offer prayers to the gods and goddesses and rejoice! Ram Barat, Agra is not to be missed due to its amazingly vibrant and colorful ambience.
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