RIVERSIDE: A full day of events marked the celebration of Ram Navami at Riverside's Shri Lakshmi Narayan Mandir. The program began with a havan with a fire that burned bright in front of the idol of Lakshmi Narayan. Head Priest Dr. Shukavak Dasa recited slokas and gave directions to the participating yajamans seated in a circle around the fire.

The wedding of Sita and Ram took place immediately afterwards. Bachu Chandravadia announced the arrival of the groom by blowing a conch. Gong-in-hand, Pandit Shukavak led the procession which consisted of devotees carrying multi-colored pennants. Lord Rama was carried high on the shoulders of bhaktas and a golden umbrella was held high above His head.

The groom was carried to the mandap where he anxiously awaited the arrival the bride. Sita was carried in a second similar procession. As the bride approached Kishore Sehgal, Neeru Sehgal, Girdhari Purohit and Shanti Purohit, representing the groom's family, held up a pink cloth, to ensure that the bride and groom could not see each other. Pandits Seshacharyulu Samudrala and Shukavak Dasa officiated.

The audience of 200 enjoyed the wedding and the cultural program which followed. Program Co-Chair Usha Agarwal opened the cultural program with her rendition of Baby Ram Stuti. Ketaki Panse was the MC. Many talented children performed. Young Anusha sang bhajans accompanied by her family members.

Omkar Panse dressed as Ram and his sister Anusha Panse, as the mother of Rama, Queen Kaushalya added a special touch as they stood behind musicians Pandit Haridham Das accompanied by his students Nilesh Gupta on harmonium and Amit Aggarwal on tabla.The children of the Kumar family teamed up for their special item. Shaurya Mehta accompanied himself on keyboard as he sang a Ram bhajan.

Everyone would agree that his rendition of "Hey Ram," the popular song by Jagjit Singh, was a remarkably talented performance, especially for a 6-year-old! Afterwards President Kishore Sehgal and Pandit Shukavak Dasa handed out small gifts to all of the cultural program participants.

The program, which was organized by Festivals Committee Chairperson Sumathi Shaker, Program Co-Chair Usha Agarwal and Program Coordinators Beena Patel, Lopa Patel, Neeru Sehgal, Kusum Chaturvedi and Hema Nakka, concluded with arati and maha Prasad.

The ladies added a special touch of color all dressed in pink saris. Sunday evening a special Rass Garba was enjoyed by 200. Program organizer, Dinesh Patel, explained that Sunday marked Durgashtami for the Vasant Navratri, which is why it was the perfect choice for garba.

"The annual Rass Garba is held every autumn during Chaitri Navratri Patel continued, "the spring Navratri is more important so it should also be celebrated by holding the full 9-day Garba. We hope to start a new Mandir tradition. If this Garba is successful we will have annual 9-day Garbas twice a year during both Navratris."

The Raas Garba was touted as a "One-of-a-kind" because electronic music was provided by Vallabh Bhai Ladwa instead of a full musical group.