Exploring Awadh: Know Why Is Ayodhya Culturally And Historically Significant

Ayodhya is primarily known for its significance in Ramayana. It is a beautiful place with a vast history and magnificent architecture. It is also known for its intricate folk art presented in different forms such as murals, sculptures, architecture, and paintings and is wildly celebrated for its performance arts such as hymns, devotional songs, and classical dance form Kathak. While it has a multitude of meaningful traditions and rituals many are only familiar with its connection to the Ramayana.

Here are some of the experiences for senior travellers to experience while in Ayodhya.

Classical Music and Dance

Ayodhya’s cultural fabric is made up of folk theatre and music based on Ramayana known as Ram Leela, classical dance performances, traditional songs, hymns, and devotional songs for different characters of Ramayana. The city boasts various music renditions, religious and instrumental played with Shehnai, Harmonium and Tablas. There are several types of theatrical performances that depict the city residents’ devotion to their religion.

Various performance art production houses exhibit beautiful performances of classical dance forms like Kathak, performed in elaborate and detail-oriented traditional dresses by the locals and up-and-coming artists. These performances are made of elaborate footwork intricate hand gestures as well as facial expressions, depicting emotions and devotion to their art. 

Architecture

\Made with beautiful sandstone, granite, and other materials, the temples of Ayodhya are adorned with intricate craftsmanship and designs along with laboriously prepared and detail-oriented shikhars, sanctums, archways, and facades. There are murals all over the streets of Ayodhya depicting scenes from Ramayana along with idols and sculptures of lord Rama, mythical stories and creatures are formed by the locals as well as commissioned artists.

The temples have iconic and complex beauty presented with religious, traditional style with modern ramifications in the structure to strengthen it. Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, Hanuman Garhi and Kanak Bhawan are some examples of famously celebrated and most visited tourist attractions for pilgrimage and a window to the Religious significance of Ramayana.

Festivals

The most celebrated festivals for which senior travellers must visit Ayodhya are Ram Navami, Deepawali, Chhatth Puja, Makar Sankranti,  Holi, Kartik Purnima and Dussehra. As the city has a direct relation to Lord Rama and Ramayana, Deepawali and Dussehra are celebrated in every corner of the city by lighting it up with diyas and candles. The ghats and Saryu River are all lit up with lamps and decorated with garlands of flowers and stickers along with elaborate firework shows. Kartik Purnima is celebrated to worship lord Vishnu which is also related to lord Rama. The celebrations include prayers, rituals, adornments and decorations that are culturally significant to the festival.