Ram Lalla consecrated at Ram Mandir in Ayodhya
The Ram Temple in Ayodhya was inaugurated today, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi participating in the rituals. Along with the inauguration, the ‘Pran Pratistha’, or consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla, the reigning deity of the temple in the form of a young Ram (the spot being considered his birthplace), also took place, starting 12.20 pm.
The shrine will be accessible to the public starting tomorrow.
Following the consecration, Modi addressed a gathering of over 8,000 individuals, including seers and prominent figures, at the venue.
While the extensive guest list comprised around 8,000 people, the exclusive roster consisted of 506 A-listers, encompassing notable politicians, leading industrialists, prominent film stars, accomplished sportspersons, diplomats, judges and high priests.
To mark this significant occasion, the Union government granted half-a-day off to all government employees, including those in public sector banks. Several states also adopted this initiative, declaring the day a public holiday.
Shortly before the ceremony Modi said it is a “great pleasure” to be part of a “divine programme” at the Ram Temple. “The supernatural moment of the consecration of Shri Ram Lala’s life in Ayodhya Dham is going to leave everyone emotional,” he wrote in Hindi.
The consecration was joyously observed by a large number of Indians, including those abroad, many f whom offered prayers at their local temples.
This significant occasion is being likened to a ‘Diwali,’ symbolising the jubilant festivities that accompanied Ram’s triumphant return after the battle with Ravan.
The consecration ceremony comes after the initial phase of the temple’s construction, facilitated by a 2019 Supreme Court judgment on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit.
In this legal dispute, Hindu litigants contended that the Babri Mosque was erected on the site of a temple, marking the birthplace of Lord Ram. The 16th-century mosque was eventually demolished by ‘kar sevaks’ in 1992.
