RaipurChief Minister Shri Vishnudev Sai today attended the grand musical Shri Ram Katha Mahotsav held at Saliatoli in Kunkuri, Jashpur district. His wife, Smt. Kaushalya Sai, was present on the occasion. In his address, Chief Minister Shri Sai highlighted the ideal life and character of Lord Shri Ram and encouraged us to embrace them in our lives. Paying his respectful obeisance to the revered saint Shri Chinmayanand Bapuji, seated on the dias on this auspicious occasion, Chief Minister Shri Vishnudev Sai said that this sacred land of Kunkuri has been blessed today. He said that the stadium in Saliatoli has become the abode of Shri Ram himself through the enjoyment of the Shri Ram Katha, and the atmosphere has become filled with devotion with the echoes of "Jai Shri Ram" all around. The Chief Minister said that Lord Shri Ram has a very deep connection with Chhattisgarh. This is the sacred land of Mother Kaushalya and the maternal home of Lord Shri Ram, where he is worshipped in every home as his nephew. He mentioned that Lord Shri Ram spent most of his 14-year exile in the Dandakaranya region and the forests of Chhattisgarh, making Ram's presence felt in every particle of this land. Many sacred sites, such as Sita Rasoi, associated with the exile period, still bear witness to the spiritual heritage of this land. He said that it is our good fortune to be living in the era when Lord Shri Ram was re-established in Ayodhya. The re-establishment of Shri Ram has brought glory to the entire India on the world stage, made possible by the strong determination of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The Chief Minister said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had pledged to provide darshan of Shri Ram Lalla to devotees from Chhattisgarh, the maternal home of Lord Shri Ram. In keeping with this spirit, the state government launched the Shri Ram Lalla Darshan Yojana immediately after its formation, through which approximately 42,000 devotees have already visited Lord Shri Ram in Ayodhya. Chief Minister Shri Sai said that Lord Shri Ram resides in every particle of the Indian psyche. A special form of devotion to Lord Rama is visible in the Janjgir region, where the people of the Ramnami community have the name of Rama ingrained in their every pore and get 'Ram-Ram' tattooed on their bodies as a symbol of their faith. He said that 300 metric tons of fragrant rice and more than 100 tons of green vegetables were sent to Ayodhya from Chhattisgarh, the maternal home of Lord Rama, for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Shri Ram Lalla. This special offering was dedicated to the love of the maternal home and to commemorate the establishment of the Lord after 500 years of struggle. The Chief Minister said that the team of doctors and medical staff from Chhattisgarh played an important role in the health check-up and treatment of the devotees of Lord Rama in Ayodhya. Chief Minister Shri Sai said that the state government has implemented the Freedom of Religion Act in Chhattisgarh with the aim of stopping illegal religious conversions, through the strict provisions of which effective control can be established on it. On this occasion, Municipal Council Vice President Shri Yash Pratap Singh Judev, Smt. Sanyogita Singh Judev, Shri Sunil Gupta, Shri Upendra Yadav, Shri Sunil Agarwal, Collector Shri Rohit Vyas, Senior Superintendent of Police Dr.A large number of devotees including Lal Umed Singh were present. The sacred devotional stream of Shri Ram Katha, which started from the mouth of the most revered Saint Chinmayanand Bapuji on April 2, will continue to flow till April 8. A large number of devotees from far-flung areas are reaching this divine event and enjoying the story. The organization of Shri Ram Katha Mahotsav has created a deep religious and spiritual atmosphere in the entire surrounding area including Kunkuri. The devotees are listening to the story with utmost reverence, enthusiasm and devotion and are taking a pledge to implement the ideals of Lord Shri Ram in their lives.