Ram Nawami Vrata | International Day of Sport for Development and Peace

Ram Navami: The Ram Sita Conversation

The 14 years of exile finally came to an end, Sita Ram was returning with glory. Today, I am starting Ramnavami's memoir with a humbly romantic incident between this ideal couple (Sita Ram), on their way back to Ayodhya they began to play hide and seek. Ram hides for a longer period inside the forest. To call back Ram in despair, Sita recited a poem in Ram's name, several poets including Tulsi das, Bhakta Kabir wrote these lines empathizing with Sita however, let me simply translate those lines for you.

Ram Sita dialect from Ramayana

Queen Sita says,

O Ram, where are you hiding, Come on Ram, burn the lamp of heart Ram
This world, manifested by men and women, where both are incomplete without each other
Come, Ram, match the missing thread of love and lighten the lamp of my heart
Listen to my words, my king, My Ram

I picked this incident and words from Valmiki Ramayana, TulasiDash wrote the same Ramayana in Awadh language, which is poetically more profound and the "Terai" civilization is comprehensively depicted by TulasiDas in his writings and plots.

TulasiDas writes

राम राम कहि जे जमुहाहीं ।
तिन्हहि न पापांपुज समुहाहिं ।
तर्जनीभ्यायं नमः

That is, the effects of sin will be dull for him, who takes the name of Rama even after his every yawning.
Today is dedicated to the glorious daughter of Maharsi Janak, Sita Maharani, and her ideal husband "Maryada Purushottam" Ram. The day is commemorated on the joy of the victory of truth against falsehood, light against darkness, and clarity against all sorts of confusions. The Ramayana is so spread across the world that this prehistoric incident is remembered through stories, poems, and dramas across Asia pacific nations including Nepal, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and everywhere where Sanatana followers reside. Every Ram Temples are crowded by devotees today. The legacy of Ram is probably the world's biggest and highly acknowledged legacy which has redefined the meaning of humanity and justice. The Ramayana was originally written in the Sanskrit language by the great scholar "Valmiki", later Nepali poet Bhanubhakta translated the entire Ramayana into Nepali language and couplets. May the grace of Lord Rama (Raghubanshi clan's pearl) always be upon us. Ram was born in the Chaitra Sukla Navami of Treta Yuga, this day is the day of Ramnavami so the entire globe celebrates the arrival of this Vishnu avatar on this earth. The contemporary date calculation roughly estimates the birth of Ram in 7393 BC, Valmiki Purana states that during birth Ram's five planetary characteristics were on the higher side (Astronomically). Ram later became the responsibility-oriented character who unquestionably performed his all duties and responsibilities without even thinking of any consequences. He was such a profound King that his kingdom is considered to be the first utopia of mankind.

Sometimes when we define a lot on Ram, I feel the importance of bringing Ravana here. Ravana was also equally talented but he lost his battle against Rama. Ravana is still worshiped as a deity in Sri Lanka, Maldives, and several other places, without Ravana Lord Rama, will have no legacy and anecdote to praise throughout these centuries. There are stories that Ravana was destined to be killed by Lord Rama and it was his only way of obtaining salvation, this is why he assembled every lot to bring the North Indian king to his South Indian capital. The Jain version of Ramayana states Sita Rani as the daughter of Ravana, there are different dimensions of Ramayana, a hundred logic and thousand sentences, and however, every word leads to a single meaning that truth and righteousness is only the key to mankind. Ram today is only confined as the ancestor and god of Sanatan followers which is not true, Ramayana is a legacy of mankind and Rama Sita is characters and deities to perish by everyone regardless of any religion and community. For hundreds of centuries to come, the human being can draw several examples and the answers to their quests from the single book of Ramayana. Lord Rama shall always boost our courage to follow the truth and express humanity from our actions.
Best wishes of Ramnavami 2081 BS.

International Day of Sport for Development and Peace



Sport has the power to change the world. It is also a fundamental right, a powerful tool for strengthening social ties and for sustainable development and peace and unity and respect. Through our unique individual skills and collective strength, we can come together for development and peace and outline creative ways for our health and well-being through sports and physical activity.

Celebrated every year on April 6, International Day of sports for Development and Peace advocates that physical activity and sports can unite people and communities around the world.

When a large crowd of spectators gathers at the Kirtipur ground to watch Nepali cricket, no one in the crowd is rich or poor, no one is big or small, or no one is from the hills or the Terai. All are the same, all are Nepali. As many may have noticed, there is hardly a sense of unity in the crowd chanting the slogan "Nepal Jindabad" when Nepal wins any game. This is the effect of the game, the world can identify the mainstream of peace and development based on this common formula of the various games that unite the world.

On August 23, 2013, the General Assembly of the United Nations declared April 6 of each year as the Sports Day for International day of sports for Development and Peace.

2025 Theme: Leveling the Playing Field: Sport for Social Inclusion
The Contribution of Sport,” which creates an opportunity for the Day’s celebrations to promote the use of sport as a tool to advance human rights and sustainable development. Under this theme, UN Headquarters in New York will recognize the role of sport in addressing the climate crisis and will highlight actions to lower greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate against climate change.

The effort to unite the world through sports must come true and it is necessary. This year, people around the world who have been trapped in uncertainty in their own homes while maintaining social distance have suffered more stress, depression and melancholy than in other years. The importance of sports and physical activities to get rid of all these things and lead a happy life is even more in the world this year.

There must be more grounds than houses. It is important to have an environment where you can learn to play, and to make sports an integral part of your life for people of all ages. Every generation in the world today needs a generation that can accept defeat and join the group or team to win. Sports should always be a pure sport, not politics. Whatever the relationship between India and Pakistan, the world is eager to see them compete in the upcoming World Cup. No matter how much rivalry there is in the game, the habit of the players shaking hands with each other or exchanging jerseys in football after the game is described as pure brotherhood. May it last forever, good luck today.

Suyog Dhakal