Rajnath, Yogi to attend Ayodhya Ram Temple mega event on Dec 31

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust has announced a comprehensive, five-day schedule of religious observances and cultural events to mark the second anniversary of the pran pratishtha (consecration) of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

The celebrations, termed ‘Pratishtha Dwadashi’, will commence on December 27 and culminate on January 2, according to the detailed plan released by the trust on Thursday, according to The Indian Express.

A highlight of the festivities will be a main ceremonial event on December 31, to be led by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Sources within the trust confirmed to The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra that Singh has consented to lead the proceedings, which are scheduled from 1 pm to 3 pm.

The daily schedule from December 27 onward will feature recitations of the Ramcharitmanas and religious discourses, with evenings dedicated to varied cultural programmes continuing until 9 pm. All events will be held at the Angad Tila site, a location specified during a trust meeting four days ago where the final schedule was ratified.

The programme intensifies from December 29. On that day and December 30, Ramcharitmanas recitation is slated from 8 am to 2 pm, followed by a discourse from Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Swami Ram Dineshacharya until 5.30 pm. Each evening will see a Ramlila performance by artistes from Guru Ghasidas University, Chhattisgarh.

The anniversary day itself, December 31, will see the main ritual preceded by morning recitations. Following the afternoon ceremony with dignitaries, a poets’ meet is organised for the evening, alongside a performance by Anshika Singh of Varanasi.

The celebrations extend into the New Year. On 1 January, discourses will follow the morning recitation, with evening cultural events from 6 pm featuring bhajans by noted singer Anup Jalota and Tripta Shakya, as well as a Ramayana-based dance drama by the Mayuri Dance Group from Firozabad.

The final day, January 2, promises performances by vocalist Suresh Wadkar and singer Sanjoli Pandey, concluding with the Kathak dance drama ‘Ram Ki Shakti Puja’ by Delhi’s Shalina Chaturvedi Group.

In a significant development from its recent meeting, the trust also resolved on two permanent construction projects. Officials informed The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra that a permanent temple structure will be built at the site where the Ram Lalla idol was seated prior to the 2024 consecration. Additionally, a memorial will be constructed to honour those who lost their lives during the decades-long Ram Temple movement.