Ayodhya Ram Mandir: Inauguration of the Grand Ayodhya Temple, PM Modi Guides Rituals for Lord Ram’s New Abode
A multitude of specially invited guests, including prominent film stars and cricketers, graced the event in Ayodhya
Ayodhya was immersed in religious fervor as the long-awaited Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla took place on Monday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, and other dignitaries. Army helicopters showered flower petals on the temple premises during the consecration.
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, meticulously carved from a single block of stone.
Constructed in the conventional Nagara architectural style, the Ram Mandir compound spans 380 feet in the east-west direction, with a width of 250 feet and an impressive height of 161 feet. The temple’s vertical structure consists of floors, each measuring 20 feet in height, supported by a remarkable ensemble of 392 pillars and adorned with 44 gates.
PM Modi followed a strict 11-day ‘anushthan,’ sleeping on the floor and consuming coconut water before the ceremony on January 22. He visited several temples across India ahead of the ‘pran-pratishtha’ ceremony of the Ram Mandir and took a holy dip at the Rameswaram ‘Angi theerth’ beach.
Addressing the gathering in Ayodhya after performing rituals in the Ram Temple consecration ceremony, PM Modi congratulated the people as the hundred years of wait ended on Monday.
After the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, PM Modi encouraged people to “lay the foundation of India for the next 1,000 years; We take a pledge to build a capable, grand, divine India from this moment.”
“Ram temple’s construction will set off a firestorm. They should reconsider as Ram is energy, not fire, a solution not dispute,” said PM Modi in Ayodhya on Monday.
The grand event witnessed the presence of around 7,000 VVIPs from across the nation, including actors, sportspersons, industrialists, and politicians.
On the other hand, Majority of the opposition chose to boycott the event, alleging that PM Modi was utilizing it for political advantages. With general elections on the horizon in India in the next few months, Mr. Modi’s political rivals argue that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may leverage the temple’s name for votes in a country where 80% of the population is Hindu.
Critics have also levelled accusations against the government, claiming it has gone too far with what is essentially a religious celebration in a country that, according to its constitution, upholds secular values.
PM Narendra Modi on X:
राम आग नहीं, राम ऊर्जा हैं।
राम विवाद नहीं, राम समाधान हैं।
राम सिर्फ हमारे नहीं हैं, राम तो सबके हैं।
राम वर्तमान ही नहीं, राम अनंतकाल हैं। pic.twitter.com/Nzs54y8yjH— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 22, 2024
Uttar Pradesh CM wrote on X: श्री राम, जय राम, जय-जय राम!
श्री राम, जय राम, जय-जय राम! pic.twitter.com/j3tXMBm4cF
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) January 22, 2024