The rituals for Ram Mandir’s Pran Pratistha ceremony begin today. Details here

Economy
By Liam
Inauguration of Ram Mandir: Ayodhya, the city in Uttar Pradesh located on the banks of Saryu, is all set to witness the seven-day rituals of the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ or consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple, which begins on Tuesday. The rituals will culminate on January 22 with a grand ceremony chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attended by thousands of VVIPs.

Construction of the Ram Temple began after the Supreme Court settled the decades-long dispute over the site in November 2019, paving the way for its construction.

Thirty-three years ago, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Lal Krishna Advani set out on a rath yatra from Somnath in Gujarat to build a temple dedicated to Lord Ram, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Among those who accompanied the then BJP president was Narendra Modi, who is now the prime minister.

“When Narendra Modi inaugurates the temple (the idol of Lord Ram in the), he will represent every citizen of our India. I pray that this temple inspires all Indians to adopt the qualities of Shri Ram,” Advani stated in an article titled ‘Ram Mandir Nirman, Ek Divya Swapna Ki Purti’, which will be published in a special edition of Rashtra Dharma , a 76-year old Hindi literature magazine.

Prime Minister Modi, then general secretary of the Gujarat BJP, was instrumental in organizing the yatra in 1990. Thirty years later, in 2020, he attended the ‘bhoomi pujan’ of the Ram temple. Ahead of the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony, Prime Minister Modi announced last Friday that he is undertaking an 11-day anushthan (special rituals).

Special rituals of the Ram Temple: what can you expect?

In the coming week, extensive rituals according to Hindu traditions will be performed in the run-up to the main ceremony.

January 16

On January 16, the rituals for the ordination ceremony begin. The host appointed by the temple trust, Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra, will conduct the reconciliation ceremony. The ‘Dashvidh’ bath, Vishnu worship and cow sacrifice will take place on the banks of Saryu River.

January 17th

A procession carrying the idol of Ram Lalla will reach Ayodhya. Devotees carrying Saryu water in Mangal Kalash go to Ram Janmabhoomi temple.

January 18

The formal rituals start with the Ganesh Ambika puja, Varun puja, Matrika puja, Brahmin Varan and Vastu Puja.

January 19

The sacred fire is lit, followed by the establishment of ‘Navagraha’ and a ‘havan’ (sacred ritual around the fire).

January 20

The sanctum sanctorum of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple will be washed with Saryu water on January 20, after which the Vaastu Shanti and ‘Annadhivas’ rituals will take place.

21st of January

The Ram Lalla idol will then be bathed in 125 urns and finally put to rest.

January 22

More than 100 chartered aircraft will land in Ayodhya along with the guests for the event. Devotees from 150 countries are expected to attend the ceremony on the final day. From 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM, the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony will take place and the deity of Ram Lalla will be consecrated.

The temple is closed for devotees on January 21 and 22 and open for people on the next day, January 23.

First print: January 16, 2024 | 11:47 am IST

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