VARANASI, Oct. 23 -- The historic Bharat Milap was held at Naati Imli ground in Kashi on Thursday amid spiritual fervour and chants of "Har Har Mahadev". The event commemorates Lord Ram's return to Ayodhya after 14 years of exile and his reunion with his brother Bharat. The traditional celebration is held a day after Dussehra. As evening fell at Nati Imli ground, the rhythmic beats of 1,008 damarus heralded the Bharat Milap organised by the Shri Chitrakoot Ramlila Samiti. The ground and rooftops of surrounding buildings were packed with thousands of men, women and children who gathered to witness Bharat Milap, a key event in the Ramlila organised by the Shri Chitrakoot Ramlila Samiti. At 4 pm, Yadava Bandhus carried idols of Lord Ram, Maa Janki, Lakshman and Lord Hanuman on a wooden chariot from the Shri Chitrakoot Ramlila Samiti to Naati Imli ground. The sound of drums and cymbals filled the air as Kunwar Anantnarayan Singh, representing the Kashi royal family, arrived on an elephant, accompanied by other family members riding two more elephants. Amid chants of "Har Har Mahadev", devotees raised their hands to greet Kunwar Anantnarayan Singh, who, seated atop an elephant, approached Lord Ram, Janaki and Lakshman aboard the Pushpak Viman, a celestial chariot stationed at the ground. Surrounded by Yaduvanshis, Kunwar Anantnarayan Singh approached Pushpak Viman on an elephant adorned with a silver howdah (thronelike seat strapped to the back of an elephant). At 4:21 pm, he offered a gold coin as the 227th dakshina to Pandit Abhinav Upadhyay, assistant organiser of the Leela, and received a tulsi garland offered to the deity. The elephant then circled the meeting point before moving to its designated spot. Amid the beats of dhol, tasa and damarus, devotees cheered as Bharat and Shatrughna entered the Leela grounds at 4:35 pm. Manas singers recited verses from the Ramcharitmanas as the brothers ascended the flower-decked meeting platform at 4:38 pm, while Lord Ram and Lakshman remained aboard the Pushpak Viman about 100 metres away. At the signal, Bharat and Shatrughna lay down at the meeting spot as Lord Ram and Lakshman rushed from the Pushpak Viman towards the stage, followed by Yaduvanshis. As the Manas Mandali recited a couplet from the Ramcharitmanas, the four brothers embraced amid cheers from devotees....