Ram’s idol installed at Ayodhya after wait for 500 years

The newly constructed idol of Ram Lalla was consecrated at the Ayodhya temple situated in North India on Monday The grand event was witnessed by millions of people on television at their homes and in temples across India.

Indian Army showered flower petals from its helicopters on the newly constructed Janmabhoomi temple as the Prana Pratishtha event was taking place.

“The extraordinary moment of the consecration of Shri Ram Lalla’s life in Ayodhya Dham is going to leave everyone emotional. It is my great pleasure to be a part of this divine programme. Jay Siya Ram!” tweeted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Ayodhya was full of religious excitement as the beautiful temple prepared for the long-awaited Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla, the baby idol of Lord Ram. Prime Minister Modi presided over the historical “Pran-Pratishtha” ritual at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

The 51-inch statue of Ram Lalla was installed at the Ram Mandir’s “Garbha Griha” on January 18.

Besides Prime Minister Modi, RSS chief Mohan Bhagat and chief minister of Utter Pradesh Yogu Adityanath were among the distinguished personalities who were present during the event.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony at the Ayodhya Ram Temple. The sculpted Ram Lalla idol, crafted by Arun Yogiraj, was unveiled during the ceremony. Pran Pratistha is a ritual that transforms an idol into a deity, enabling it to accept prayers and grant boons.

Ayodhya witnessed a massive influx of devotees, with shops adorned with religious symbols along Ram Path and Bhakti Path. Temples nationwide celebrated the occasion with special festivities. The Ram Temple was decorated with flowers and lights, creating a religious atmosphere in Ayodhya. Over 8,000 invitees attended the event, including prominent figures like Amitabh Bachchan, Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, and Sachin Tendulkar. Many opposition leaders declined the invitation, with the Congress referring to the ceremony as a “BJP-RSS event.”

In his speech on Monday, chief minister Yogi Adityanath said the Ram temple consecration ceremony has come after a wait of 500 years and the entire country has become “Ram maye”. Addressing a gathering after the ceremony, the chief minister said “It is an emotional moment for all of us and it has come after a 500-year wait.”

Addressing a gathering after the ceremony, the chief minister said, “It is an emotional moment for all of us and it has come after a 500-year wait.” “The whole nation has become Ram maye. It seems that we have arrived in ‘Treta Yug’,” Adityanath added.

Yogi Adityanath, during his speech at the Ram mandir in Ayodhya following the consecration ceremony, said “Mandir wahi bana hai” (the temple has been built there) in reference to a famous slogan popularised by the VHP and karsevaks during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, which was “mandir wahi banayenge” (the temple will be built there).

Ceremonial gates with the slogan ‘Jai Shri Ram’ in floral patterns and illumination visible at night added to the aura of the ancient city which has undergone a massive infrastructural development in the last two years, following the landmark Supreme Court verdict in favour of Ram Mandir in 2019.