Celebrating Ram Mandir inauguration: Preparations are in full swing for the Ayodhya Ram Mandir ‘Pran Pratishtha’ (consecration) ceremony on January 22, 2024. This marks the culmination of a decades-long movement, holding immense spiritual and cultural significance for millions. Across the country, people are gearing up to celebrate this momentous occasion with fervour and devotion.
Widespread preparation and celebration are taking place across India. Devotees and volunteers are busy adorning temples, streets, and homes with vibrant colours, bright lights, and sacred symbols. Several states across India, including Assam, Gujarat, have declared half-day for government offices till 2.30 PM and educational institutions have also been closed for January 22.
Also Read:Ram Mandir consecration ceremony: Jan 22 half-day holiday for Delhi govt offices
Here’s a glimpse into how people are celebrating across nation :
Ayodhya
The town of Ayodhya is adorned with decorations, rangoli patterns, and twinkling lights, accompanied by the sounds of devotional hymns and chants. Intricate rangolis, made from coloured powders, streets and doorways are decorated depicting scenes from the Ramayana. Saffron flags with the image of Lord Ram flutter from rooftops and lamp posts, contributing to a visual celebration of the deity’s homecoming.
The entire temple town is adorned with a Tretayug theme. Surya pillars, symbolising Lord Rama as a Suryavanshi, have been installed along the religious path.
At nightfall, Ayodhya transforms with countless diyas (oil lamps) and strings of lights illuminating the city, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness. Houses, shops, and temples are meticulously adorned with marigold garlands, mango leaves, and colorful buntings, reflecting India’s cultural heritage. The city’s walls showcase murals and paintings depicting scenes from the Ramayana, serving as a constant reminder of the epic’s enduring legacy.
Contributions from across the nation: Unique locks, majestic Bells, and iconic idols
In the lead-up to the grand consecration ceremony, individuals from various regions are making significant contributions. The world’s largest lock, weighing 400 kg, and 1,265 kg of laddu prasad reached Ayodhya on Saturday. Both are offerings being made to ‘Ram Lalla’.
A businessman from Jalesar Nagar Panchayat in the Etah district made a remarkable contribution by presenting a 2400-kilogram bell made of ‘ashtadhatu’ (eight metals) to the Ram Janmabhoomi Tirtha Kshetra Trust. This singular bell, crafted in a single casting, is claimed to have a range of up to 10 kilometers, with an approximate manufacturing cost of Rs 25 lakh.
An additional presentation include seven bells, each weighing 51 kilograms.
Tirupati to Banke Bihari : Offerings from temples across nation
Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) prepared 1 lakh laddu weighing 25 grams each, for the Ayodhya Ram Temple ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony. The laddus were packed in 350 boxes by devotees of Lord Balaji and were transported to Ayodhya by a private truck to Tirupati Airport and from there they would be sent to Ayodhya in a special flight.
The famed Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan has offered a grand silver throne (Singhasan) and a gold-plated umbrella (Chatra) to the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya. The silver throne, weighing a staggering 225 kg, is adorned with intricate carvings and precious stones. It is meant to serve as the seat for the principal deity of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, Lord Rama. The gold-plated umbrella, crafted from 5 kg of pure gold, measures a majestic 10 feet in diameter and symbolizes divine protection for the temple and its devotees.
The Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram is set to present an Onavillu, a traditional ceremonial bow, to the Ram Temple. Temple tantri Tharananellur Satheesan Namboothiripad and members of the administrative committee, including Avittam Thirunal Adithya Varma from the royal family of erstwhile Travancore, will officially hand over the Onavillu to representatives of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
From biscuit temples to silk sarees: Artistic tributes for Ayodhya Ram Mandir
A resident in Durgapur, West Bengal, has garnered attention on social media for creating a 20 kg replica of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya using Parle G biscuits. Chhotan Ghosh’s unique creation, held together with glue, thermacol, and plywood, took five days to complete. Known for crafting attractive replicas, Ghosh’s masterpiece has gained international acclaim online.
A skilled weaver from Dharmavaram, Andhra Pradesh, has crafted a unique Patu (silk) saree worth Rs 1.5 lakh for the Ayodhya Ram Mandir. The masterpiece intricately depicts the Ramayana on both borders, incorporating 366 verses and 322 repetitions of ‘Jai Sri Ram’ in the central portion. Notably, the mantra is inscribed in thirteen languages, symbolizing cultural unity.
The weaver dedicated four months to this inclusive creation, expressing it as a humble offering to the grandeur of Ayodhya Ram Mandir.
In Odisha’s Ganjam district, artist Arun Sahu, 35, has crafted a ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ in wood to commemorate the consecration of the Ram temple. Residing in Kanchuru village near Hinjili town, Sahu’s creation stands at 5.6 feet in height within a 30-inch wooden frame, featuring a carved image of Lord Hanuman. The Hindi letters were meticulously carved into ‘gambari’ wood and affixed in a two-inch thick wooden frame. Sahu also ensured its longevity through a careful polishing process.
PM Modi launches Ram Mandir stamps
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday unveiled six commemorative postage stamps centred on Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, along with a stamp book featuring Lord Ram from across the globe.
The set of six stamps showcases the Ram Temple, Lord Ganesh, Lord Hanuman, Jatayu, Kevatraj, and Ma Shabri. Notably, the miniature sheet is adorned with a majestic icon incorporating a gold leaf of sun rays and Chaupai. The postage stamps embody the five physical elements, referred to as ‘Panchabhutas’—sky, air, fire, earth, and water.