KATHMANDU, Nov 23: Vivaha Panchami, the festival celebrating the wedding of Rama and Sita, is being observed today.

The day is marked as the vivah utsav of Rama and Sita in temples and sacred places associated with Sri Rama across Nepal and in Mithila region of India.

On this occasion, a religious festival is held at the Janaki temple in Janakpurdham to commemorate the marriage anniversary of Rama and Sita. Hundreds of thousands of devotees from across Nepal and India throng at Janaki temple to celebrate the occasion in belief that participating in the wedding festival ceremony will get their dreams fulfilled.

Young men and women tie their knots on this day regarding it as the most auspicious day for wedding.

Several Newar families in Nepal also perform Ihi or Bel Marriage on this day.

Legend has it that Mithila King Shirdhwoj (Janak) had married off his daughter Janaki (Sita) to Rama, son of Dasarath, king of Ayodhya now in India after he broke the Dhanush (bow) into three pieces on the day of Mangsir Shukla Panchami as per lunar calendar.