The Ramayana exhibition at the Maryland State Assembly highlighted the epic’s cultural significance, attracting lawmakers, diplomats, and community leaders to foster understanding and appreciation of diverse traditions.
ANNAPOLIS, MD – A one-day exhibition showcasing the Ramayana and its influence across Asia and beyond took place at the Maryland State Assembly building. The event attracted state lawmakers, diplomats, and community leaders to the Annapolis complex.
Several Maryland delegates addressed attendees during the exhibition. Delegate Wu Chao, who represents parts of Howard and Montgomery counties, emphasized the exhibition’s role in illustrating how culture can connect people across borders and backgrounds.
“It’s a culture that connects people and provides that diversity, enhancing understanding between different backgrounds,” Chao remarked. He noted that cultural exchanges like this one serve as a counterbalance to the divisions often present in politics.
Delegate Harry Bhandari shared his reflections on the moral lessons of the Ramayana and their relevance in today’s society. He described the epic as more than just a religious text, referring to it as a guide to character, sacrifice, and inner peace.
“When we talk about the Ramayana, I think we can reflect on the modern world,” Bhandari stated, highlighting its teachings on family values, humility, and the dangers of ego. He pointed out that these stories remain instructive at a time when many societies grapple with social fragmentation and mental well-being.
Delegate Mike Roger, a military veteran with extensive travel experience in Asia, expressed how the exhibition resonated with his own experiences abroad. “You have more things in common than we have differences,” he said, adding that understanding shared traditions fosters mutual respect and contributes to making “the world a better place.”
Diplomatic representatives also spoke, emphasizing the Ramayana’s significance beyond India.
Organizers noted that the exhibition was strategically placed within the state legislature to engage policymakers and staff who may be unfamiliar with the broader Asian civilizational context of the Ramayana. Utsav Chakrabarti of HinduAction remarked that Maryland’s diversity made it an ideal venue for such an event.
“In the state of Maryland, there are more than 160,000 Hindu community members,” Chakrabarti said, highlighting the presence of significant Thai, Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Filipino communities. He pointed out that many legislators have limited knowledge of Hindu history in countries where Hindus are no longer a majority, such as Malaysia, Indonesia, or the Philippines.
Chakrabarti explained that the exhibition aimed to educate elected officials about the “civilizational connection that the Ramayana brings to people across different faith groups and ethnicities.” He noted that around a dozen delegates and several senators visited during the day-long display, calling the response encouraging.
The exhibition was brought to Maryland by Dr. Vidya Sathiamoorthy, a pathologist and volunteer with HinduAction. She was inspired to organize the event after learning that the display had previously been hosted at the U.S. Capitol and the Ohio State Capitol.
According to IANS, the exhibition serves as a reminder of the Ramayana’s enduring legacy and its ability to foster dialogue and understanding among diverse communities.