📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Shivam Agrawal
Religion
Bhandavgarh's Unique Janmashtami: Ram Worshipped as Kanhaiya, Sita as Radha Rani
✍️ Amar Ujala · Madhya Pradesh
🗓 03 Sep 2026, 05:32 PM
👁 25
In Bhandavgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Janmashtami is marked by a distinctive ritual where devotees worship Lord Ram as Kanhaiya and Mother Sita as Radha Rani, a tradition rooted in local folklore.
During the annual Janmashtami celebrations in Bhandavgarh, a small town in Madhya Pradesh, devotees gather at the local Ram temple to perform a special puja that sets this festival apart from the rest of the country. Instead of the usual depiction of Lord Ram as the heroic prince, the worshippers treat him as Kanhaiya, the affectionate nickname for the child form of Ram, and Mother Sita as Radha Rani, emphasizing the divine couple’s playful and loving aspects.
The tradition, passed down through generations, is said to have originated from a local legend in which the forest surrounding the temple was believed to be the playground of the divine couple. On the day of Janmashtami, the temple’s flag is hoisted, and a procession of devotees carrying small idols of Kanhaiya and Radha Rani makes its way through the village, chanting hymns that celebrate the youthful energy of the deities.
Local priests explain that the practice symbolizes the eternal bond between the divine couple, reminding worshippers that the divine is not only a distant god but also a loving partner who experiences joy and playfulness. The event attracts visitors from neighboring districts, who come to witness the unique blend of devotion and folklore.
The temple authorities have ensured that the celebrations are conducted with respect for the environment, as the surrounding forest is a protected area. The community’s collective participation in the puja underscores the town’s strong sense of cultural identity and religious harmony.
The tradition, passed down through generations, is said to have originated from a local legend in which the forest surrounding the temple was believed to be the playground of the divine couple. On the day of Janmashtami, the temple’s flag is hoisted, and a procession of devotees carrying small idols of Kanhaiya and Radha Rani makes its way through the village, chanting hymns that celebrate the youthful energy of the deities.
Local priests explain that the practice symbolizes the eternal bond between the divine couple, reminding worshippers that the divine is not only a distant god but also a loving partner who experiences joy and playfulness. The event attracts visitors from neighboring districts, who come to witness the unique blend of devotion and folklore.
The temple authorities have ensured that the celebrations are conducted with respect for the environment, as the surrounding forest is a protected area. The community’s collective participation in the puja underscores the town’s strong sense of cultural identity and religious harmony.