Team Blitz India
NEW DELHI: Amid chanting of hymns and vedic mantras, the historic Pran Pratishtha (consecration ceremony) of Ram Lalla was held at the sanctum sanctorum of the Ayodhya temple on January 22, marking the homecoming of Lord Ram after 500 years.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the ‘mukhya yajman’ and performed the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ rituals, designed to infuse life into the idol of Ram Lalla. A team of priests, led by Lakshmikant Dixit, oversaw the main rituals.
The Prime Minister walked inside the temple premises with a silver ‘chattar’ (umbrella) placed on a red folded dupatta. The ceremony took place in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.
Lakhs of people watched the ceremony on television at their homes and in neighbourhood temples. Army helicopters showered flower petals on the newly constructed temple as the ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremony took place.
Crafted by the skilled hands of sculptor Arun Yogiraj from Mysuru, the 51-inch-tall idol, captures the image of a five-year-old Lord Ram standing gracefully on a lotus, all meticulously carved from a single block of stone. At least 15 kg of gold and 18,000 diamonds and emeralds have been used in making the jewellery for the deity.
Following the Ram Temple ‘Pran Pratishtha’, the Prime Minister sprinkled flower petals on workers who were a part of the construction crew at the grand temple in Ayodhya. PM Modi also visited Kuber Tila shrine and unveiled a statue of Jatayu.
The Ram Mandir was packed with thousands of guests, including distinguished celebrities who reached the temple ahead of the consecration ceremony. These include Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and Anil Kumble, Bollywood superstars Katrina Kaif, Vicky Kaushal, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and South actors Rajinikanth, Ram Charan and Chiranjeevi, among others.
Meanwhile, the doors of the Ram temple opened to the general public on January 23.A large number of devotees, both locals and visitors from other states, gathered outside the main gates for hours since late in the night, waiting to enter the premises.
