Punekars at the initiative "Do Dhaage Shri Ram Ke Liye."
This year’s Gudi Padwa was auspicious for Punekars as their hard work finally reaped its benefit, Shri Ram Lalla finally adorned the holy fabric woven by the devotees.
Gudi Padwa marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year in Maharashtra and this year it coincided with the Chaitra Shukla Patripada and the Pune devotees’ heartfelt expression was unfolded as Shree Ram Lalla adorned the divine threads woven together with so much love and devotion.
There was an initiative led by Anagha Ghaisas, the director of Heritage Hand Weaving Revival CharitableTrust in Pune. they started an outreach program called the, Do Dhaage Shri Ram ke Liye” This program saw an engagement of about 12,36,000 Punekars. People all over the city hauled together participating in the weaving of the sacred holy fabric.
Here is a video of the event unfolding posted on X formerly known as Twitter; Handlooms in Pune weaving the holy fabric.
This was a thirteen-day campaign that commenced on the 10th of December last year, whereby thousands of people joined hands to weave beautiful handlooms for Shri Ram Lalla. Constant support from the Ram Janmbhoomi Tirth Kshetra helped Heritage Hand Weaving Revival Charitable Trust in Pune reach its devotion's fruition.
According to Govind Dev Giri, Treasurer of the Ram Janmbhoomi Tirth Kshetra Trust, the attire for Shri Ram Lalla will be intricately designed and woven using golden thread. Handlooms from every state of India have been assembled in Pune, Devotees all across Pune can participate in this initiative.
Ghaisas also highlighted the dual purpose that the campaign aims by involving citizens of Pune to participate in the holy work as well as promoting the art of handloom, highlighting the fact that the work of handloom is akin to engineering.
“Our intention is to promote Handloom for which I have been working for a long time. Handloom is not easy, it requires mathematical precision, patience, and science so it is no less than Engineering,” says Anagha Ghaisas.
She also said that every handloom will be handled by an expert who will responsibly guide the people of Pune while weaving the garments.
She also added that the vastras that were being designed and loomed for Shri Ram Lalla will predominantly be crafted using silk and adorned with silver Zari.
The campaign received a huge push due to the visit of Smriti Irani and Govind Dev Giri from the Ram Temple Trust. Both personalities participated in the campaign underscoring the existing widespread support.
The campaign finally reached its fruition this Gud Padwa, when the Shree Ram Lalla Idol was adorned with the very fabric woven by the Punekars. Champat Rai, General Secretary of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra confirmed the big news. It was seen as a great celebration as Gudi Padwa is the Maharashtian New Year.
Anagha Ghaisas expresses herself in a tweet here, she says Every person that comes here weaves 2 threads.....
Anagha Ghaisas expressed her joy, stating, "We are thrilled to see that the fabric woven through our initiative adorned Ram Lalla for the entire day on Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, coinciding with Gudi Padwa, the beginning of the Hindu new year. While Shri Ram Lalla's garments are changed every afternoon, Punekars are blessed that our holy woven fabric adorned Ram Lalla for an entire day. We are delighted that the Hindu New Year commenced with an emotional message for all Shri Ram devotees from Pune and its vicinity.”
