NEW DELHI: Thousands of devotees from across India have gathered in Ayodhya to mark the first anniversary of the consecration of the Ram Lalla idol at the grand Ram temple.
The three-day celebrations, which began on Saturday and will continue till Monday (January 11-13), have transformed the temple city into a vibrant center of devotion and festivity.
The anniversary, celebrated according to the traditional Hindu calendar, began with Prime Minister Yogi Adityanath performing an ‘abhishek’ on the idol and a recital of Yajurveda. “Ayodhya is completely imbued with the essence and devotion of Lord Ram,” said the temple’s head priest Satyendra Das.
The events attract an average daily footfall of 1.5 lakh, with numbers expected to rise further during the festivities. “This huge turnout at the Ram temple also means that people from different walks of life are very happy with the consecration of the idol of Lord Ram Lalla,” Das added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings on this occasion. In a social media post on heritage of our culture and spirituality.”
Expressing confidence in the importance of the temple, he added, “I am sure that this divine and magnificent Ram temple will become a great inspiration in achieving the resolve of a developed India.”
Ayodhya Mayor Girish Pati Tripathi described the occasion as the “fulfillment of a dream”. He said: “Happiness is seeing our culture blossom and flourish… I feel privileged to be able to serve the people of this city.”
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has highlighted the progress in the construction of the temple, with three floors completed and work on the ‘shikhar’ expected to be completed in two months. “It is a result of the hard work of the nodal agencies,” said Anil Mishra, a member of the trust.
The celebrations aim to include those who could not attend last year’s edition. historic consecration ceremony. “The fund has decided to invite common people… They will be allowed to participate during the three days of events,” said Champat Rai, general secretary of the fund.
The original consecration, on January 22, 2024, was a historic event attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called it the beginning of a “strong, capable and divine” India for the next millennium.
For locals like Rajat Singh, the occasion is deeply personal. “This day is special for me and my family members as we happily remember ‘Pran Pratishtha’ day,” he said. Another resident, Bharat Singh, called it a “historic day” and added: “Lord Ram is the symbol of hope and faith for millions of devotees.”
Celebrations include cultural and religious events to mark the inauguration of the temple, a culmination of decades of efforts to reclaim the site. “The large number of devotees visiting the temple shows their devotion,” Mishra said. Since its construction, the temple has received more than three million visitors.