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| LUV and KUSH Jayanti 2016 |
Luv Kush Jayanti 2016 = 18th August (Thursday)
Luv and Kush were twin sons of Rama and Sita and their story appears in Ramayana. The Jayanti is celebrated in the Ashram of saint Valmiki to commemorate their day of birth.
Legend & History
Though, both Luv and Kush knew the story of Lord Ram and Sita, they both were unaware that they were the sons of Rama in fact. They were also unaware of the true identity of their mother and the fact that she was abdicated by her husband because the people of Ayodhya had raised questions about her purity after being kidnaped by Ravana.
Once, when Rama had organized the Ashwamedha Yagya, the twins caught the horse when it was loitering around the Ashram. When the great warriors of Ayodhya learned about this, they reached at Ashram and claimed for the horse but the twin brothers refused to return. As a result, a battle ensued between the warriors and the twin brothers in which the brothers of Rama, Lakshman, Bharat and Shatrughna were defeated.
On hearing this, Lord Rama was forced to take part in the battle himself. He was impressed by the strength and bravery of Luv and Kush and invited them to his palace. There, they learned their true identity and also asked his wife Sita to return to the palace. On reaching Ayodhya she once again pleaded her innocence and asked Mother Earth to usurp her into her fold. The earth obliged and swallowed her inside herself. The anguished Lord Rama took Samadhi in the Sarayu river to meet Sita in heaven. After taking Samadhi by Rama, the clan of Ayodhya was handed down by the twin brothers Luv and Kush.
Another story is that Sita gave birth to Luv shortly after she started living in the Ashram of Valmiki. One day she went to the forest to collect wood and left her only son Luv under the care of saint Valmiki. Soon after some time, the saint got busy with his doings and the little one crawled into the forest. When the saint realized that the baby was missing, he was exasperated. He did not have the heart to tell Sita that she had lost her only child. Therefore, he created another child Kush look like Luv from Kusha grass.
When Sita returned, the saint Valmiki was surprised to see a little Luv in her arms. In turn, Sita was surprised to see the identical twin. Since, he was made of Kusha grass, he was named as Kush and continued to live at the Ashram with Valmiki, Sita and her two twin sons Luv and Kush.
These are the two most vital legends associated with stories of Luv and Kush. These two stories are described on the Luv Kush Jayanti in most of the places to celebrate the birth and the bravery of the young lads who serve as an inspiration for the youth.
Significance
Even though, this festival is celebrated on a small scale among some selective communities, the sentiments and the importance attached to it marks its significancs. It is not an ode to the Lord Rama and his family. It is a moment of reunion and celebration of the family values.
Special Slams are placed on inculcating the virtues of respect for parents, service to society, brotherhood and bravery in times of test to the children. The birth of twins is regarded as an auspicious occasion as it is believed Luv & Kush have taken birth again.
Celebrations and Rituals
People wake up early in the morning and take a holy bath. They worship of Lord Vishnu because Lord Rama is an incarnation of Vishnu, read shlokas from the Ramayna and sing the Bhajans and Kirtans in the praise of the Lord.
In spite of offering prayers to Lord Rama, Maata Sita and Luv Kush, children dressed up as Luv & Kush on this auspicious day and important scenes from the Ramayna are performed. Various cultural programs are organized on this day.
Some people organize the event to read Ramayna for over 24 hours. Thus, Luv Kush Jayanti is celebrated on small scale but forms an important event in the Hindu calendar and is a significant occasion for some communities.
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