Devotion Marks Rama Navami Celebrations In City

Hyderabad: The streets of the city reverberated with chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram' as tens of thousands of devotees took part in a Rama Navami Shobha Yatra, transforming the stretch from Mangalghat to Ram Koti into a sea of saffron flags.The procession, which had a delayed start in the afternoon from Mangalghat at around 2pm, saw participants of all ages dressed in traditional attire, carrying portraits of Lord Rama and recreating scenes and images from the Ramayana on elaborately decorated floats. While one float featured Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, another featured a ‘Bal Ram' with a young child dressed in saffron robes and sporting long hair."This is not just a celebration, but an expression of our faith and heritage," said Ramesh Sharma, a businessman who took part in the yatra for the third year in a row. "The energy today is electrifying, and seeing young people embrace our traditions fills my heart with joy."Fragrance of incense and fresh flower garlands filled the air as volunteers lined the route distributing traditional sweets and prasad. Children perched on their parents' shoulders waved flags, while groups of women offered prayers at various points along the procession.The procession peaked on the way to Ram Koti, where cultural performances and bhajans were organised. "I brought my six-year-old daughter along to the festival for the first time this year," beamed Priya Rani, a resident of Masab Tank. "It is important for the next generation to understand and experience our cultural festivities firsthand."High-decibel beats What stood out was the presence of high-decibel DJ systems throughout the rally, despite restrictions from local authorities. The conditional permission granted by Hyderabad police for Sunday's procession specifically stated that no loud sound systems should be used.