In the heart of Ayodhya, where the old times and divinity intertwine, the world saw history unfold on January 22nd when the Ram Lalla idol had its unveiling at a “Pran Pratishtha” event led by Prime Minister Modi. Alongside the Prime Minister were Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh president Mohan Bhagwat, Governor of Uttar Pradesh Anandiben Patel, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, a few priests and trustees of the Ayodhya Ramjanambhoomi Trust.
Offerings of fragrant flowers, sweet incense and exotic fruits were made with devotion, symbolising the surrender of the mortal to the immortal. The atmosphere was charged with spiritual energy, and the crowd outside the temple, a sea of faces lit by the glow of faith, watched in awe (on a giant LED screen) as the divine saga unfolded.
The revelation of the Lord’s divine face occurred following an hour-long ritual. Meanwhile, hymns, poetry, and songs praising Lord Ram echoed through temples across the country.
Earlier, the Prime Minister entered the shrine with a silver ‘chatter’ (umbrella) resting on a red folded cloth and walked to the sanctum sanctorum to perform the procedures.
After the puja, PM Modi sought blessings from sadhus. With the completion of the rituals, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ended his 11-day stringent fast.
Following the ceremony, in his address to the dignitaries in attendance, he said, “Today, our Ram has arrived”. He decried those who resisted the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, saying, “Ram is not fire, but an energy…he belongs not just to us, but to everyone…”
At that moment, standing in the sacred precincts of the newly constructed majestic temple, the Prime Minster sent a message to the world that Lord Ram was not merely a deity enshrined in stone; he was a living presence, a beacon of righteousness and love.
He stated that the construction of the Ram Temple reflected the maturity of Indian culture. He further explained that the temple in Ayodhya represented national consciousness in the image of Ram.
Subsequently, PM Modi visited the Kuber Tila on the Ram temple grounds and worshipped Lord Shiva there.
The prime minister later unveiled a statue of ‘Jatayu’ (the bird who tried to save Sita from the demon Ravan, fought him but lost his life) on the grounds of the Ayodhya Ram Temple. He also showered flower petals on workers constructing the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
Fifty traditional musical instruments from around the country were part of a devotional “Mangal Dhwani” that resonated during the consecration ceremony at Ayodhya’s newly built Ram temple on Monday.
In the holy environs of the temple, the sun cast its warm glow upon the invitees, comprising the who-is-who of the country rubbing shoulders with sadhus, artisans and labourers responsible for the temple’s construction. The air was filled with anticipation, and the fragrance of incense danced on the gentle breeze, weaving dreams and prayers into the fabric of the evening.
Over 8,000 people were invited to attend the ceremony in the magnificent temple. Some of the notable names were billionaire businessman Mukesh Ambani and his family, steel magnate Lakshmi N Mittal, telecom giant Sunil Bharti Mittal, Reliance Group CEO Anil Ambani, and Aditya Birla Group chairperson Kumar Mangalam Birla.
Among the Bollywood stars were Madhuri Dixit along with her husband, Dr Shriram Nene, Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Ayushmann Khurana, and Rajkumar Hirani were present at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya.
Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar looked happy and eager, while actress and MP Hema Malini joined a sadhvi as she danced in merriment. The ceremony was attended by special guests from cricket, film, saint society, politics, art, literature, culture, and other disciplines.
In 2019, the Supreme Court ruled that the title of the disputed site in Ayodhya be awarded to the deity Ram Lalla Virajman. With that, it culminated the 500-year wait to build a temple in Lord Ram’s birthplace, Ayodhya and install his statue in the sanctum sanctorum.
Tonight, as the last echoes of the ceremonial chants fade into the night, a profound stillness settles over Ayodhya. The consecration of Lord Ram is complete, and the city, bathed in the soft luminescence of moonlight, stands as a testament to the enduring power of devotion—a celestial dance between the mortal and the divine.
