The Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Darbar on the first floor of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir will take place on Thursday, marking the final stage of a three-day spiritual celebration led by Vedic scholars and priests. Organised under the guidance of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, the event will also include the consecration of idols in several other temples within the temple complex.
Consecration of multiple deities
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will perform the central rituals of the ceremony, which coincides with his 53rd birthday. Idols in several other temples within the complex will also be consecrated on Thursday along with the installation of the Ram Darbar, Hindustan Times reported. The ceremonies will begin at 11 am with Vedic chanting and a traditional havan. A key highlight will be the symbolic ‘uncovering of the eyes’ of Lord Ram and Goddess Sita by the Chief Minister.
Saryu Trayodashi Janmotsav
Special aartis and cultural programs will take place on the banks of the Saryu River to mark Saryu Trayodashi Janmotsav. The district administration has made elaborate security arrangements for the event.
Shashikant Maharaj, president of the Anjani Seva Sansthan, told HT that this ceremony revives the tradition started by Guru Vashishtha in the Treta Yuga. “Raja Ram will be ceremonially reinstalled. Just as Guru Vashishtha did during Treta Yuga, Yogi ji will now perform the tilak. He has worked relentlessly to restore Ayodhya’s lost glory. Eight years ago, people were afraid to walk from Naya Ghat to Guptar Ghat after dark. Today, places like Aarti Ghat are hubs of devotion and celebration,” HT quoted Shashikant Maharaj as saying.
New temples
Within the parkota (outer courtyard) of the Ram Mandir, new temples for Surya, Ganesh, Shiva, Hanuman, Mata Bhagwati, and Mata Annapurna have also been established. The Sapt Mandapam area features temples dedicated to Valmiki, Vishwamitra, Agastya, Vashistha, Nishadraj, and Ahalya.
Three-day rituals
The celebrations started on Tuesday morning at 6.30 am with a two-hour Panchang Puja outside the Yajna Mandap. At 9 am, the Yajna Shala entry ceremony was held. Inside, nine Yajna Kundas have been set up where 16 priests are conducting sacred rituals. A total of 101 Vedic scholars chanted 1,975 mantras during the course of the event.
Other rituals followed, including Digarh Rakshan, Vastu Puja, Mandap Puja, Agni Sthapan, and Grah Sthapan. Later in the day, additional ceremonies such as Yogini Puja, Kshetrapal Puja, Grahyagya, and Jaladhivas were performed. Eight priests were assigned for chanting, while another eight handled various spiritual texts. Anil Mishra, a member of the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust, is acting as the chief host for the three-day proceedings, HT reported.
Darshan continues amid tightened security
Despite the scale of the rituals, regular darshan of Ram Lalla for devotees has not been restricted. However, due to security concerns, Ayodhya Police have begun verifying tenants and residents in unauthorised areas. Six teams are working in key zones near the temple, and about 150 houses have already been checked.
Inspector General Praveen Kumar reviewed the security arrangements on Tuesday. Personnel from CRPF, SSF, and PAC are stationed around the temple, maintaining a strong security presence.
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