Picture : ANI / X
Jai Shri Ram….the salutation echoed with reverence not only in India but all over the world with great fervour. After all the 500 year long wait had finally come to an end! Ayodhya was decked up just like it must have been when Shri Ram arrived after 14 years of exile. The Ram temple too was beautifully adorned with quintals of flowers making it look resplendent and as the muhurat time grew close, the sun suddenly shone bright as if it was giving it’s blessings too. The new Ram Lalla idol was radiating in divine ornaments and attire. According to Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the ornaments made for Lord Ram are based on extensive research and study “following the descriptions of Shri Ram’s scripturally appropriate splendour in texts such as the Adhyatma Ramayana, Valmiki Ramayana, Ramcharitmanas, and Alavandar Stotra”. The idol of Ram Lalla was adorned in a yellow dhoti and a red pataka/angavastram in Banarasi fabric. These angavastrams are embellished with pure gold zari and and threads, featuring auspicious Vaishnav symbols – Shankh, Padma, Chakra, and Mayur.
Picture : ANI / X
January 22, 2024, marks a monumental moment in Indian history as Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the consecration of the Ram Lalla idol at the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya. In the presence of distinguished gathering of saints and seers among other well-known personalites, Modi heralded the end of Lord Ram’s long tenure in a temporary shelter, announcing his new abode in a magnificent temple. He said, “Today, our Ram Lalla will no longer live in a tent. He will reside in a splendid temple,” emphasizing the fulfillment of a centuries-old wait and the culmination of collective patience and sacrifices. He also expressed a profound connection with the divine, felt during the sanctification ceremony within the temple’s sanctum sanctorum. He then visited the Kuber Tila on the Ram temple premises and offered worship to Lord Shiva there. He performed ‘jalabhishek’ (offering water on the ‘Shiva linga’) and also did a ‘parikrama’ (circumambulation) of the temple. Later, he unveiled a statue of ‘Jatayu’ and showered flower petals on workers who were involved in the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
#WATCH | Ayodhya Ram Temple illuminated beautifully after the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony pic.twitter.com/UrMFdEQUgQ
— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024
Modi said, “The sunrise of 22nd January has brought a wonderful glow. January 22, 2024, is not a date written on the calendar. It is the origin of a new time cycle.” Modi’s proclamation of January 22 as the onset of a new era reflects the profound cultural and spiritual awakening this event symbolizes for millions. The Ram Temple, beyond its religious significance, is seen as a symbol of India’s rich heritage and the triumph of faith and persistence. His speech resonated with historical and cultural significance, as he noted that Lord Ram is now enshrined in a place befitting his reverence. Feeling disillusioned for being so late in building the temple, Modi said, “Today, I also apologise to Lord Shri Ram. There must be something lacking in our effort, sacrifice and penance that we could not do this work for so many centuries. Today the work has been completed. I believe that Lord Shri Ram will definitely forgive us today.”
Similar feelings were felt globally when Hindus abroad expressed their connections to Ayodhya and the significance of the Ram Mandir for the diaspora. The Indian diaspora in the US illuminated Times Square, New York to celebrate the event.
“We never thought that we would witness this day in this lifetime. Soon Ayodhya’s Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha ceremony will take place. People in Times Square are also celebrating this. All this is taking place under the leadership of PM Modi… People across the world are eager for this moment…,” Prem Bhandari, Overseas Friends of Ram Mandir, was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. The group also distributed sweets to people inside Times Square. More events were lined up all the way from New York Times Square to Boston, as well as in Washington, DC, Los Angeles and San Francisco. In New Jersey’s Monroe, a 25-feet statue of Lord Hanuman was brought for installation by the devotees. The inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya garnered international attention, with political leaders and lawmakers from around the world extending their wishes ahead of the ceremony.
#WATCH | Laser and light show depicting Lord Ram at the Ayodhya Ram Temple after ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Ram Lalla. pic.twitter.com/01sy4mM8uH
— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024
Mentioning the nation’s constitutional and legal framework, Modi highlighted that Lord Ram’s essence is embedded in the first copy of India’s Constitution. He expressed gratitude to the judiciary for resolving the prolonged legal battle over Lord Ram’s existence, paving the way for the temple’s construction in a lawful manner. This historic event, attended by prominent figures cutting across various fields, signifies a unifying moment for the nation, transcending religious, social, and political divides. It’s a celebration of India’s age-old traditions, cultural richness, and the enduring legacy of its spiritual icons. As the country embarks on this new era, the Ram Temple stands as a testament to India’s journey, its values, and its continual evolution.
#WATCH | UP: Laser and light show underway at Saryu Ghat in Ayodhya after ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Ram Lalla. pic.twitter.com/kdvF6ZITdQ
— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024
As Modi rightly puts it, “This is a temple of national consciousness in the form of Ram. Ram is the faith of India, Ram is the foundation of India. Ram is the idea of India, Ram is the law of India…Ram is the prestige of India, Ram is the glory of India…Ram is the leader and Ram is the policy. Ram is eternal…When Ram is honoured, its effect does not last for years or centuries, its effect is for thousands of years…” Jai Shri Ram!
