Ayodhya Ram Mandir: We will celebrate Diwali this time in January. And why not? Lord Rama is coming!
Yes, Lord Ram’s city, Ayodhya, is fully decorated and ready to welcome Lord Ram grandly. After 500 years, the festival of the arrival of the Lord will be celebrated with great enthusiasm in the city of Ayodhya. The inauguration of Ayodhya Ram Mandir/Temple, scheduled to take place on January 22, 2024, under the leadership of our country’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is a proud occasion for all Sanatani and followers of Lord Shri Ram.
On January 22, 2024, Ram Lalla will be seated in his grand temple, and a splendour of grandeur will be visible in the entire city of Ayodhya.
This article will discuss very special things related to Ramlala Deepotsav organized in Ayodhya city. You will realize how huge and wonderful this time’s Deepotsav, the last Deepotsav before Ramlala’s presence in the grand temple, will be. Let’s enjoy:
Ayodhya Ram Temple, The Victory of the Golden Past
Let us tell the readers, in November 2019, the Supreme Court permitted the construction of the Ram Temple on Ayodhya land, under the Ram Mandir– Babri Masjid dispute that has been going on for more than a hundred years. At the same time, Modi ji promised that a grand temple would be built for Ram Lala (baby Ram), who was sitting in a tent for almost 30 years due to the controversy.
Modi Ji Laid the Foundation Stone for Ram Temple: Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for Ram temple in Ayodhya on August 5, 2020. Amid slogans of “Jai Siya Ram”, crores of devotees watched on screens across the city as Modi ji placed the symbolic silver brick in the main sanctum of the temple. This was truly a golden opportunity for devotees from all over India.
The grandeur of Ram Temple: The beauty and grandeur of Ayodhya Temple are worth seeing.
• The temple is being built in traditional Nagar style.
• The temple’s length (east to west) will be 380 feet, width 250 feet and height 161 feet.
• The temple will be three-storeyed, each storey 20 feet high. There will be a child form of Lord Shri Ram in the main sanctum and Shri Ram Darbar on the first floor.
• The temple can be entered from the east side by climbing 32 stairs from Singhdwar.
• 70 per cent of the 70-acre area of the temple will always be green, and iron and concrete have not been used here.
• The temple has five pavilions – dance, colour, assembly, prayer, and kirtan pavilions.
• Statues of gods and goddesses are carved into the temple’s pillars and walls, making the temple even more beautiful.
• About 21 lakh pieces of granite, granite, sandstone, and marble are being used in the temple’s construction, and every part is being made so strong that it will not need repair for about 1,000 years.
Inauguration and life consecration ceremony by the Prime Minister: The Ram temple built in Ayodhya City will be inaugurated on January 22, 2024, preparations for which are in full swing. Prime Minister Modi will be the chief host on this important occasion. More than 25,000 people are attending this inauguration ceremony. At the same time, Ram Mandir Trust has also sent invitations to leaders of all political parties. Under the guidance of Pandit Laxmikant Dixit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the Pran Pratistha along with 121 Vedic Brahmins from across the country. The entire process will be done under “Sanjeevani Yoga”, an auspicious Muhurata. Pran Pratishtha will be done during “Abhijeet Muhurat”. The auspicious time for installation of Ram Lalla idol will be from 12:20 to 12:30. Upon installation of the idol, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will perform the first aarti of Shri Ram.
Blessings of Lord Hanuman: Before the Pran Pratistha ceremony, PM Modi will go to the court of Lord Hanuman and seek blessings from him, because it is believed that when Lord Shri Ram left his body and returned to his abode, at that time Lord Hanuman ruled the Ayodhya city. It is clearly stated in Hindu scriptures that Lord Hanuman is immortal and one of the eight Chiranjeevi. The Pran Pratistha ceremony will include circumambulation of the Saryu River and a city tour.
Akshat Invitation: Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other Hindu organizations have launched a unique campaign related to the inauguration of Ram Temple. Because all the devotees cannot reach Ayodhya city, the temple trust is sending invitations to all Ram devotees to attend the ceremony sitting at home. For this, they have made small sachets of rice coated with pure ghee and turmeric, and Vishwa Hindu Parishad and RSS workers are distributing them from door to door in cities, villages and states. These intact winds are being distributed from Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Ram.
While giving the Akshat, these workers tell each recipient about the celebration of Pran Pratistha in Ayodhya, ask them to light the lamps on January 22, and organize Ramotsav at the local community temple if possible. They are giving a table of contents giving information about the temple, and a photograph of the Ram temple, along with the traditional ‘Akshat’. Launched on January 1, this initiative is to transport the revered ‘Akshat’ or sacred paddy from Ayodhya to millions of Hindus in India. Akshat distribution is going on from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. The intact distribution reminds Hindus of their deep connection with Lord Shri Ram.
The intention of the new Guinness World Record: This year, preparations are on to create a new record in the Deepotsav to be held in Ayodhya, where approximately 24.5 lakh lamps will be lit. The potters of Ayodhya have manufactured all these lamps, and this has also provided employment opportunities to these potters. The potters of Ayodhya have manufactured these 24 and a half lakh lamps. For the record, these lamps need to burn for 5 to 15 minutes to meet the Guinness Book of World Records standards. Thus, all preparations are in full swing for this wonderful festival of lights.
A Glimpse of Indian Culture and Its Richness in Deepotsav
About 2500 artists from 24 states of India will showcase their culture in the Deepotsav, which will be held in Ayodhya. Deepotsav will showcase the confluence of languages, styles, and cultures of Indian states, including various styles of tribal dance, Garba, Kathakali, and Kalbelia. There will also be Ramlila of 4 Deepotsav countries, including Russia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Singapore. In this spectacular event, most people will feel the unique beauty and richness of Indian culture.
Donate Lamps in the Deepotsav, Sitting at Home with the “Holy Ayodhya App”
In the upcoming Deepotsav, people wish to participate in the lamp donation in Ayodhya, but sometimes, due to various reasons, they are not able to do so. Solving this problem, the Tourism Department has launched the “Holy Ayodhya App“. People from India and abroad can book lamps in Ayodhya through this app. This app is available on the Play Store, Android, and Apple platforms.
After downloading this app, people can book one or more lamps in their name. After Deepotsav, the tourism department will send lamps, prasad, and Saryu water to their address after this. This app has provided a new way for people to participate in religious and cultural events in Ayodhya.
Conclusion: Lord Shri Ram resides in the heart of every fellow citizen. Everyone in villages, cities, towns and streets is eager to see the grand scene of Lord Ram’s arrival. Ramlalla is revered by elders, old, young and children; his ideals are the foundation of our Indian culture. The goodwill of people towards Ram Bhoomi is visible. Stay connected for other interesting articles related to the topic, Jai Siya Ram.