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Everyone sits on the floor to show that everyone is equal in the eyes of God, regardless of whether they come from a rich or poor background. However, it is usually found that men and women sit separately. The women tend to sit on the left side of the room whilst the men sit on the right. There is no
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For
Balmikis communal prayer is not restricted to the confines of the Ashram, but can take place anywhere as long as the Ramayana is present. However, when an Ashram is not within traveling distance, many Balmiki families will have a special room in their house containing a copy of the Ramayana which
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Eventually, all the devotees will congregate in the Langar hall, for a meal, for which no one has to pay. All are welcome to share the Langar, which is always vegetarian. Sharing of food together is designed to unite people from all sections of the society and to promote equality between all human
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All
Balmikis follow certain rules of conduct and before entering the worship room everyone is expected to remove their shoes as a sign of respect but also for general cleanliness. However, devotees may not enter the Ashram if they are carrying alcohol, drugs, or meat. As devotee enter the worship
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Each devotee kneels before the
Ramayana and makes their offering of prayer and money. It is not essential that devotees offer money and some may wish to donate food towards the Langar. The devotees then retreat to find a place to sit down. Usually a picture of
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hall where all the devotees congregate for a meal, the community kitchen where devotees help to prepare food for the Langer, a classroom and library where the
Ramayana is stocked for study and is used for teaching young children.
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There is no special day for worship during the week, but since work restricts one’s availability for worship, most
Balmiki’s attend the Ashram on Sundays. Devotees are at liberty to come and go at any time during the
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At short intervals reading from the
Ramayana will stop and devotees will be called to the platform to preach and sing hymns. At the end of the Pooja the whole congregation will stand and say a prayer called the
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All
Balmiki Ashrams have a number of common features. For instance, the place of worship is always in a special room, and there are a number of other rooms set aside for special purposes. There is a
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which means a hermitage or monastery. It is the communal house for
Balmikis. The function of the Ashram is to serve as a center for building up devotees' commitment and for transmitting the
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The Ashram is open to all who wish to enter, anyone who goes to the Ashram is welcome to stay as long as they wish and are welcome regardless of race, gender, caste or creed.
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In
Britain, Ashrams come in various sizes. Some tend to be specially constructed, whilst others tend to be renovated buildings designed to enable the purpose of worship.
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is placed in front of the
Ramayana to help focus concentration and incense sticks are lit to purify the air.
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When an Ashram is not available, Balmikis will hire a public building or use a private home as an Ashram.
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are taught and hymns are practiced for worship. Finally, there is a special area for shoes and washing.
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which is covered with an embroidered cloth and is kept on a platform covered with a special canopy.
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204:'s message, and the focal point for the whole community to preserve their culture and traditions.
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The Pooja begins by everyone standing up to say a prayer which is called the
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All Balmiki Ashrams display a special flag outside, called a
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There is a music room where musical instruments such as the
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371:. bhagwanvalmiki.com. Archived from
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342:Ashrams in different countries
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394:Categories
379:2015-01-04
355:References
27:Part of a
298:then the
121:Community
39:Balmikism
336:Balmikis
320:beings.
300:Poojari'
262:Ramayana
215:Features
202:Ramayana
55:Ramayana
405:Balmiki
400:Ashrams
329:Mazhabi
198:Ashram,
194:Balmiki
135:Mazhabi
130:Balmiki
308:Arthi.
270:Valmik
221:Langar
140:Chuhra
102:Ashram
97:Ardaas
88:Ashram
33:on the
30:series
332:Sikhs
286:Pooja
246:Tabla
112:Arthi
79:Kusha
278:Sikh
239:Kush
237:and
74:Lava
241:.
235:Lav
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192:A
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