The House of Ram Holds its First Cultural Event, Shri Ram Katha

*The House of Ram*, an initiative to provide employment to women, local artisans, and people who were losing their livelihood during the pandemic, organized its first cultural event, "*Shri Ram Katha*", a portrayal of Ramayana depicted via Odissi Dance-Drama recently.
*Lamp Lighting Ceremony of "Shri Ram Katha", a portrayal of Ramayana depicted via Odissi Dance-Drama held in New Delhi recently*

The event was attended by Shri Murli Manohar Joshi, one of the founding members of the BJP, Hon'ble Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva, and Hon'ble Justice Vibhu Bakhru among the houseful of audience.

*Shri Murli Manohar Joshi in his address to the media *said, "Yeh karyakram Ram ke naam par nahi, Ram ke kaam par aayojit hai (This event is not based on the name of Lord Ram but based on the teachings of Lord Ram)." While praising the efforts of 'The House of Ram', he further added, "Isse ek aam aadmi ko Ram se judne ka ek bohut sundar avsar prapt ho raha hai. Ek kumhar bhi isse juda hai, ek maala banane wala bhi isse juda hai, aur apne kaam ke madhyam se bhagwan Ram ko ghar ghar pahuchaya jaa raha hai. (through this initiative, every individual has got an opportunity to associate with the ideals of Lord Ram. And every artisan involved, be it a potter or an ornament maker, can therefore take the blessings of Lord Ram to every home through their products."Gunjan Paharia, the founder of The House of Ram, believes that every individual must play their part in the upliftment of society in whatever capacity they can. Further working on this belief, The House of Ram extended its support to the classical art of Odissi Dance and organized this event to provide a platform for local artisans to showcase their skills to the world.

All those who attended the enchanting tale of Ramayana - Shri Ram Katha, spoke of it as an outstanding experience. Some audience members also described it as '*divine*' and were mesmerized as it brought the emotions of the characters of the epic to life.

The House of Ram is part empowerment and part social cause initiative. The organization empowers skilled individuals from marginalized sections of society to create products that are pure, handmade, and resonate with the ideals of Maryada Purushottam. The unique point in their products is that they are blessed at the Hanuman Garhi Temple in Ayodhya and hence their tag line of - '*Ayodhya se aapke ghar tak*'. Its products range from semi-precious jewellery to aromatics like scented candles and incense sticks.*About The House of Ram*
The House of Ram endeavours to generate employment for people who suffered the most during the pandemic, which included women who had to step out of their homes to become the breadwinners for their families. Additionally, the organization enables local artisans like kumhars, darzis, printers, jewellery makers to get back on their feet. So, in line with this thought process, the House of Ram is part of empowerment and part social cause initiative.

The organization engages people from marginalized sections of society to create products that are pure, handmade, and resonate with the ideals of Maryada Purushottam.To give back to society, they have pledged to support the Vriddha Mahila Ashram in Ayodhya.

Website: thehouseofram.com
Social Links:
www.instagram.com/thehouseofram
www.facebook.com/thehouseofram
www.youtube.com/channel/UCs1_5el-p_VEIsa4gnd0tkg

*About Odissi Darshan Nritya Academy *
Odissi Darshan Nritya Academy is a platform created to showcase original masterpieces of revered gurus from various art forms in live performances by their respective disciples. It is a platform exhibiting jewels of India to a larger audience with no boundaries, giving a chance to art lovers in India and abroad for cultural exchange. The founders belong to the culturally rich state of Odisha, famous for its spell-bounding Odissi dancers, which the group proudly presents to you.

*About the Odissi Dance *
Odissi is a temple dance from the eastern state of Odisha. This lyrical and sensuous dance brings to life the sculptures adorning the walls of the Sun Temple at Konarak and the Jagannath Temple at Puri. The origins of this dance can be traced back to the 2nd century B.C. carvings of the Rani Gumpa caves in Udaygiri, Odisha. The Natya Shastra refers to this dance as Odar Magadha. It is considered to be one of the oldest dances in the world.Odissi draws heavily from the Gotipua and the Maharis dance tradition. The dancing girls, or Maharis, dedicated their lives to the worship of Lord Jagannath. They performed this sacred art in the sanctity of the temples. The dance was brought out into the public by young boys, Gotipuas, dressed in female attire. After the 17th century, there was a decline in royal patronage. Lack of funds and prestige meant that the dancers fell into disrepute. It was only in the 1950s that there was a massive undertaking by scholars and revivalist Gurus to reconstruct Odissi.