For many years, the sounds of people’s intense devotion have filled Ayodhya, a sacred city on India’s River Saryu. Those sounds are becoming more audible across India as we move up to a significant occasion – the consecration ceremony of the grand Ram Temple. The ceremony is scheduled for January 22, 2024.
Quick History
The Ram Mandir controversy has been intertwined with India’s religious and political landscape for centuries. Hindus believe Ayodhya is the birthplace of Lord Rama, a Hindu deity. However, the disputed location was home to a mosque known as the Babri Masjid for centuries. This religious conflict culminated in the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid, which sparked communal tensions and legal disputes. The Supreme Court of India ruled to construct a Ram Temple on the disputed site in 2019, opening the path for this historic occasion.
The Ram Lalla’s Idol
The idol of Lord Ram is in the form of a five-year-old child (Ram Lalla), according to Champat Rai, general secretary of the Ram Temple Trust. It was crafted from a dark-colored stone known as Shaligram, which was taken approximately a year ago from the Gandaki riverbank in Nepal. It measures 51 inches tall. Arun Yogiraj, a renowned sculptor from Karnataka, sculpted the idol.
Invitation and Invitees
Invitation card
The Ram Mandir consecration event invitation cards are spectacular, with the main invite a “Pran Pratishtha” program card and a pamphlet on the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. The primary card features a silhouette of the impending temple, with the words ‘Shree Ram Dham’ and ‘Ayodhya’ printed beneath it. “Invitation Extraordinaire” or “Apoorva Anadik Nimantran” in Hindi is written on the cover. The “Pran Pratishtha” program card also features a temple silhouette with the title “Ceremony Special” or “Karyakram Vishesh” in Hindi.
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Invitees
The Ram Mandir consecration ceremony has drawn many political leaders, businessmen, sports stars, and celebrities. Over 100,000 devotees are expected to attend the ‘pran pratishtha’ on January 22 in the temple town. The guest list includes roughly 7,000 Indian and international invitees. The invited politicians include Sonia Gandhi, Nitish Kumar, Mallikarjun Kharge, Manmohan Singh, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, LK Advani, and Murli Manohar Joshi. Among the sportsmen invited are Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar. The celebrity invitees include Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit, Rajinikanth, Akshay Kumar, Anupam Kher, Chiranjeevi, and Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Mukesh Ambani, Anil Ambani, and Ratan Tata are among the industrialists who have been invited.
Schedule
The Temple Trust has laid out a detailed seven-day program for the Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram Temple consecration event in Ayodhya. The celebrations begin on January 16 and involve atonement rites, a sacred bath on the banks of the Saryu River, Vishnu worship, and Godan. On January 18, there will be a procession carrying Ramlala’s idol, devotees bringing Saryu water in Mangal Kalash, and official rites such as Ganesh Ambika Puja, Varun Puja, Matrika Puja, Brahmin Varan, and Vastu Puja. On January 19, there will be Agni Sthapana, Navagraha Sthapana, and Havan, followed by sanctum sanctorum cleaning with holy Saryu water, Vaastu Shanti, and Annadhivas on January 20. After morning worship, the ceremony concludes on January 22 with a sacred bath utilizing 125 urns and the consecration of the Ramlala deity in the afternoon during the Mrigashira Nakshatra.
Live Streaming and Opening of the Temple
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has revealed intentions to live-stream the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of the Ram temple at the booth level nationwide. Party instructions include setting up giant screens for the live telecast of the Shri Ram Consecration by BJP workers. The Ram temple is scheduled to open for devotees on January 23.
