Varanasi is a city of fairs and festivals. Almost
every month, a fair or festival is celebrated at Varanasi. Celebration
all round the year is another interesting facet of the holy city,
Varanasi. Bharat Milap, held in October/November is an important
festival of Kashi or Varanasi. Bharat Milap is celebrated to commemorate
Lord Ram's return to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and his reunion
with his brother, Bharat. The essence of this festival is victory of
truth over evil. Lord Ram returned back to Ayodhya after spending 14
years in exile. The story of Lord Ram is the main theme of Valmiki's
Ramayana and Tulsidas' Ramcharitamanas.
The Bharat Milap festival is held the day following Dussehra. The
Bharat Milap festival is held at Nati Imli, Varanasi. The annual
Dussehra festival and the Bharat Milap festival is one of the greatest
attractions of Varanasi city. The people of Varanasi celebrate Bharat
Milap with great fanfare and devotion. Thousands gather in the streets
to see the procession of Lord Ram and his reunion with younger brother,
Bharat. People pay their respect by putting Tilak on forehead and
garlanding Lord Ram and his brothers. Another interesting part of the
Bharat Milap celebration is the presence of Kashi Naresh (former king of
Varanasi) with all his royal paraphernalia and regal finery.
