Ram Temple Live Updates:: A host of high-profile celebrities are expected in Ayodhya tomorrow.
Ayodhya:
The preparations for the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya began on January 16. The main ceremony will be held at the grand temple today.
The general secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Champat Rai, said the Ram temple will be opened for ‘darshan’ to the general public from January 23.
“The entire country is Rammay (obsessed with Lord Ram). The scope of Lord Ram’s life, His inspiration, and faith extend far beyond devotion. Lord Ram is a symbol of good governance in social life,” Prime Minister Modi said.
From night vision devices to CCTV cameras with artificial intelligence (AI), Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya has been secured tightly for the Ram temple consecration ceremony. The temple has been decorated with tonnes of flowers and colourful lights.
Here are the Highlights on Ayodhya Ram Mandir Inauguration:
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#WATCH | Nepal: Janakpur lit up ahead of the Ram temple ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony in Ayodhya, later today. (21.01)
(Drone visuals from Janakpur) pic.twitter.com/ePtdN2chqG
– ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2024
#WATCH | New York, US: Laddoos distributed by the members of Overseas Friends of Ram Mandir at Times Square ahead of Ayodhya’s Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha ceremony, later today. pic.twitter.com/FjRGCE7a91
– ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2024
Ahead of the Pran Pratishta ceremony in Ayodhya today, Chief Minister Manik Saha attended the Swachata Abhiyan at four temples in the state, including the Tripura Sundari temple and Kasba Kali Bari, on Sunday, an official statement said.
He also participated in the cleanliness drive at the Anandamayee Kalibari and Lakshmi Narayan Bari temple premises in Agartala on the same day. (ANI)
The Delhi BJP office today stands illuminated and decorated as the country prepares to witness the Pran Prathistha of Lord Ram’s idol in Ayodhya, the party said in a statement.
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said in a statement that senior central and Delhi BJP leaders will join the community viewing of the Pran Pratistha at different temples in Delhi.
Mr Sachdeva said that Delhi BJP workers have made arrangements to organise community viewing of Pran Prathistha Samaroh by putting up screens and TVs at over 2000 locations across the city in temples at booth level.
Many Delhi BJP office-bearers, MPs, MLAs, and councillors have made announcements to organise community viewings of Samaroh in their offices and to distribute ladoos. A special screen is being set up at the Pradesh Office where all employees and their families will watch the Samaroh, the statement added. (ANI)
Ahead of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony today, former AAP leader and poet Kumar Vishwas said that with the newly built Ram Mandir sadness of people turned into happiness and excitement.
Speaking with ANI on Sunday, he said, “…It’s a fight of 500 years… There was guilt among people that they could not build the Temple of Ram. That Ayodha city is giving off a weird feeling. The current BJP-led Union government changed everything. The sadness of people turned into happiness and excitement.”
#WATCH | US: Om Sri Sai Balaji Temple and Cultural Center in Monroe, New Jersey received a 25-foot single-stone idol of Lord Hanuman. pic.twitter.com/F6GfX2McpZ
– ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2024
Suryanarayana Maddula, the Chairman of the temple and culture centre, along with trustee Pankaj Mohan, and co-founders Ramesh Taduvai and Ramkrishna Sannidhi were joined by community leaders Alok Kumar, Sanjeev Singh, Rajiv Akhaury and Anurag Kumar as the statue arrived in Monroe.
They said that it was a great coincidence that at the time of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya, Lord Ram’s biggest devotee Lord Hanuman arrived in New Jersey.
Prayers and celebrations were organised at the Brahmrishi Mission Ashram in London, United Kingdom, ahead of the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
Satyam Surana, an Indian student studying at the London School of Economics, said that the whole world has dived into the colour of Lord Ram and there is great enthusiasm among the Indian diaspora.
“Not just India, but the whole world has got ‘Rammay’. Lord Ram belongs to the whole world. Celebrations for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony have been planned at 250 places and the Indian diaspora is celebrating the occasion with high fanfare and enthusiasm. Here at Brahmrishi Ashram, people from all parts of India have come to celebrate,” he said. (ANI)
#WATCH | Delhi: On Congress, declining invitation for Ram temple ‘Pran Pratishtha’, Congress Leader Anand Sharma says, “Lord Ram does not belong to a political party which came into existence in 1980 or any organisation which came into existence in 1925. Neither Congress nor… pic.twitter.com/BT1vLFhBZd
– ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2024
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reached Ayodhya on Sunday, a day before the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple and oversaw final inspection of the preparations.
Mr Adityanath conducted the final inspection of the preparations for ‘Pran Pratistha’ and also took stock of other arrangements, a state government spokesperson said in a statement issued in Lucknow.
The chief minister also met Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat at Sangh office, Saket Nilayam.
According to the statement, Mr Adityanath then performed paid obeisance at Hanuman Garhi and later went to Ram temple and took stock of the preparations there.
He also went to Karsevakapuram and visited the tent city built by the pilgrimage area there.
Rakesh Panday, a saint based in London, has arrived in Ayodhya ahead of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Mandir and said that it is a matter of great pride for everyone.
Mr Panday, who also runs a pharmaceutical company in London, said that he came to Ayodhya after receiving an invitation and is here till January 24.
Speaking to ANI, Rakesh Panday said, “It is a matter of great pride. I stay abroad and have come here for this purpose only. The way the idol of Lord Ram is being reinstalled at his birthplace after 500 years, a lot of credit goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.”
He applauded the development in the city of Ayodhya. (ANI)
More than 1.5 lakh ‘diyas’ were lit during ‘deepotsav’ held in Uttarakhand’s Dehradun on Sunday, a day before the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the programme held at Parade Ground here and also lit diyas and sang devotional songs on Lord Ram.
He said, “After a long wait, the auspicious occasion of Ram Lalla being seated at his birthplace has come and we all will be witnesses of this fortunate moment.” “We have participated in this grand festival of lights by the grace of Lord Ram,” he said.
Mr Dhami said that the path for building Ram temple has been paved under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (PTI)
Actor Rajnikanth reached a hotel in Ayodhya, ahead of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony tomorrow.
Several celebrities are attending the grand event. Many have reached the city to be part of an auspicious occasion. Madhur Bhandarkar, Anupam Kher, Kangana Ranaut, Vivek Oberoi to many others are all going to be part of the ceremony.
Kangana Ranaut also arrived in Ayodhya earlier to attend the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ on Monday. (ANI)
The Gohana intersection in Panipat will be named Shri Ram Chowk and the Railway Road intersection Maharshi Valmiki Chowk, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced on Sunday.
The announcement comes on the eve of the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ consecration ceremony of the idol of Ram Lalla at the Ram temple in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh.
Today the whole world is expressing faith in Lord Ram in one voice, said Mr Khattar, while addressing a gathering at Panipat during a ‘Shobha Yatra’ for which he was the chief guest. (ANI)
Adinath Mangeshkar, nephew of legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar arrived at Ayodhya along with his wife, ahead of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony.
Talking about the auspicious occasion, he told news agency ANI, “Nothing can be a more precious moment than this. We are here to witness the grand ceremony. We will also go to see the Chowk in the name of our respectful Lata didi. There is a lot of progress in Ayodhya. I can see many new hotels. It is going to be a tourist spot. It is a golden opportunity for us to be part of this grand event.”
Talking about the Pran Pratishtha ceremony, all the arrangements are being made for the special occasion. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust announced on Sunday that the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony will be marked by a dazzling musical event titled ‘Mangal Dhwani’. (ANI)
#WATCH | UP: Ram Janmabhoomi premises lit up and decorated beautifully ahead of the Ram temple ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony in Ayodhya, tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/KXbmsmOaIK
– ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2024
#WATCH | Vishwa Hindu Parishad in the US, organised a car rally at Golden Gate Bridge, ahead of the Ram Mandir ‘Pran Pratistha’ ceremony in Ayodhya. pic.twitter.com/MiluooawEn
– ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2024
The Janaki Temple in Nepal’s Janakpur is illuminated with lights as people are keen to celebrate the Pran Pratistha of Ram Lalla in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya set to take place on Monday.
Janakpur, the home of the in-laws of Ram Lalla is gearing up its preparation to celebrate Monday with fanfare and gaiety organizing Deepawali submerging the city with decorative lights and show.
On the eve of Shri Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and his wife made rangoli of flowers at their residence in Dehradun.
Mr Dhami said that all the people of the state should celebrate this sacred ‘Pran Pratistha’ with enthusiasm.
Earlier, addressing the ‘Ram Shobha Yatra’ organised by Shri Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha Utsav Committee from Parade Ground here on Saturday, Dhami said that the day of Pran Pratishtha has not come so easily.
“This day has not come so easily, for this day, several mothers lost their sons, several sisters lost their brothers. We are truly blessed to have been able to witness this day…,” he said. (ANI)
#WATCH | Agartala: On Ram Mandir ‘Pran Pratistha’ ceremony, Tripura CM Manik Saha says, ” After a wait of 500 years, Ram Mandir has been built…we always say ‘Ramrajya’…during ‘Ramrajya’ everybody was happy, that’s why PM wants ‘Ramrajya’ in the whole country. In Tripura also… pic.twitter.com/f3OiRjiRHZ
– ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2024
Allahabad University Students Attempting To Make World’s Largest Rangoli
A group of students of the Allahabad University is attempting to make the world’s largest rangoli of the Ram mandir and Ram Lalla, it will be unveiled on the day of the consecration ceremony at the temple in Ayodhya. The students engaged in making the rangoli are associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
BRS MLC K Kavitha said her party did not get any official invitation for the consecration of Ayodhya Ram temple but mentioned that she would visit the temple at a later date.
Lord Ram belongs to all and not to some, said Kavitha, who is the daughter of BRS president and former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.
“BRS party has not got any official invitation for the Ayodhya Ram Mandir (temple) consecration. But, Lord Ram belongs to all and not just some. We will get an opportunity to visit Ayodhya at some point of time (in the future), on some occasion,” she told reporters.
“I feel, some day, we all will have the good fortune of visiting Ayodhya like we visit pilgrimage places. But, (we) won’t be able to attend the event tomorrow because there is no official invitation. But, we will definitely go there on some occasion because it is a Lord Ram temple,” she said.
Rich fragrance-bearing flowers brought from Chennai will be used for decorating the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on Sunday night, an official said.
Sanjay Dhawalikar, head of the floral decoration team, also said that over 3,000 kgs of flowers of more than 20 varieties have been used for decoration of the grand structure ahead of the consecration ceremony on January 22.
#WATCH | On reaching Ayodhya, 9-year-old spiritual orator Abhinav Arora says, “I am very happy, excited and proud, as is every Hindu of the country. After waiting for so many years, finally, Ram Mandir is being made. My eyes are fortunate that they get to see the Ram Temple being… pic.twitter.com/eyhNKq3Hue
– ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2024
A Guinness world record was created after 33,258 ‘diyas’ (earthen lamps) were lit to write “Siyavar Ramchandra ki Jai” in Chandrapur in Maharashtra in the run up to the idol consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
The event took place on the Chanda Club ground in the presence of state minister Sudhir Mungantiwar.
Milind Werlekar and Prasad Kulkarni of the Guinness World Records handed the document certifying the feat to Mr Mungantiwar.
#WATCH | Maharashtra: Thousands of diyas lit up in the shape of ‘Siyavar Ramchandra Ki Jai’ at Chanda Club Ground in Chandrapur, ahead of the Ram temple ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony in Ayodhya pic.twitter.com/TsU7SeCttz
– ANI (@ANI) January 20, 2024
Indian-Americans living in the Boston city of US celebrated the Ram Mandir (Temple) inauguration, which is scheduled for January 22, and India’s 75th Republic Day at an event.
The event held at the historic Union Station of Worcester, over 45 miles west of Boston, was addressed by the city of Worcester Mayor Joseph M. Petty and Massachusetts State Senator Mike Moore.
Mayor Petty issued a proclamation for January 26 as the 75th Republic Day of India.
The proclamation encouraged all residents of the city of Worcester to recognise and participate in its observance and extend “our warmest congratulations to the American Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Asian-American communities on the auspicious inauguration of the Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22.
The Jharkhand government has declared a holiday for all government schools and offices till 2:30 pm on Shri Ram Lalla ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony day.
Taking to ‘X’ Chief Minister’s Office said, “On the occasion of ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of the idol of Lord Ram in his child form in Ayodhya tomorrow on January 22, 2024, Chief Minister Hemant Soren has directed the Chief Secretary to keep all the government offices closed till 2:30 pm and government schools closed for the whole day.”
More than 5 lakh ‘diyas’ will be illuminated across 700 markets in the national capital on the occasion of Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya, said local traders’ body Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI).
“The fervour has led to a surge in demand for Ram Mandir-related goods, with a four-fold increase in requests for flags, models, costumes, badges, and photos,” said Chamber of Trade and Industry chairman Brijesh Goyal and president Subhash Khandelwal in a joint statement.
#WATCH | Jaipur: Guinness World Record holder sculptor Navaratna Prajapati carves out a statue of Shri Ram on the tip of a pencil.
He says, “It took me 5 days to complete it. And it is just 1.3cm in height… This is the smallest statue in the world. I will gift this to the Shri… pic.twitter.com/c9nRo0duCM
– ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2024
#WATCH | Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis sang the song of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement “Jaago Toh Ek Baar Hindu Jaago Toh” at an event in Nagpur, yesterday. pic.twitter.com/jWsXC09shl
– ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2024
While the country awaits for the grand ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of Ram Lalla at Ayodhya’s temple, on the sixth day of the ceremony, the Ram Lalla idol was bathed with water from 114 Kalash (vases), each containing specially medicated liquids.
#WATCH | UP: Actor Randeep Hooda along with his wife Lin Laishram arrives at the Lucknow airport to attend the Ram temple ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony in Ayodhya tomorrow
He says, “We are very excited and looking forward to being present there and getting the blessings of Lord… pic.twitter.com/TDcbOTNb4Z
– ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2024
The NDMC has adorned key locations in Lutyens’ Delhi with captivating flower boards to celebrate the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, said its vice-chairman Satish Upadhyay.
He added that prominent locations, including Khan Market, BKS Marg, Connaught Place, Mandi House roundabout, PM House roundabout, Malcha Marg Market, Yashwant Place Market, Dilli Haat, Birla Mandir and 11 Murti, have been decorated.
Mr Upadhyay said the “headquarters of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) is also illuminated with radiance” in view of the auspicious occasion.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman participated in a cleanliness drive under the Swachh Teerth Campaign at Eri Katha Ramar Temple in Madhuranthakam, Tamil Nadu.
“Nirmala Sitharaman participates in a cleanliness drive under the Swachh Teerth Campaign at Eri Katha Ramar Temple in Madhuranthakam, Tamil Nadu. Eri Katha Ramar Temple is dedicated to Lord Rama. It was built during the reign of the Pallava Kingdom and is one of the oldest temples of Lord Rama in South India,” as per a post by the Nirmala Sitharaman Office on ‘X’.
Union Education Minister Cleans Samaleswari Temple Ahead Of Ayodhya Event
On Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to clean temples across the country ahead of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan offered prayers at Samaleswari temple and took part in cleanliness drive in Odisha’s Sambalpur district.
A renowned priest from Arunachal Pradesh, who will attend the consecration of Ram temple in Ayodhya, has appreciated the hospitality given to him in the temple town.
Mogi Ori, who is a Donyi-Polo Kargu Gamgi priest in West Siang district, said he found heaven on earth after visiting Ayodhya.
“I think I have found heaven on earth by visiting the place,” he told news agency PTI from Ayodhya.
Actors Kangana Ranaut, Shefali Shah, Pawan Kalyan, and Randeep Hooda among Indian cinema personalities who have arrived in Ayodhya ahead of the grand Ram temple consecration ceremony.
Temples in Puducherry will livestream the consecration of the Lord Ram temple at Ayodhya on their premises after the territorial government issued circulars directing them to make arrangements, official sources said here on Sunday.
The consecration ceremony of the Ayodhya Ram temple will take place on January 22. The temple managements here are gearing up to perform customary rituals for the idols of Lord Ram and his consort, Goddess Sita, prior to the live telecast, the sources said.
#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh | Bageshwar Dham’s Dhirendra Shastri arrives in Ayodhya, ahead of the Ram Temple pranpratishtha ceremony tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/ZbxheX9pvz
– ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2024
#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: Ayodhya’s Ram Temple lit up and decorated beautifully ahead of the Ram temple ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony in Ayodhya tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/1W9sipxe8u
– ANI (@ANI) January 21, 2024
On the eve of the highly anticipated Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Indian community in Taiwan came together in a joyous celebration, embracing the significant occasion.
The festivities, held on January 21, witnessed two distinct events organised by the vibrant Indian community in Taiwan, as well as the dedicated efforts of ISKON Taiwan.
Indian community in Taiwan organises ‘Keertan-Bhajan’ on eve of Ram Temple’s Pran Pratishtha
Read @ANI Story | https://t.co/uByjqIpz7O#Taiwan#IndianCommunity#PranPratishtha#RamTemplepic.twitter.com/EaeON359HD
– ANI Digital (@ani_digital) January 21, 2024
Eknath Shinde Not Attending Ram Temple Event, Says Will Tour Ayodhya Later
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday said he plans to take his cabinet as well as MLAs and Lok Sabha MPs from the state for ‘darshan’ to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya later and, hence, was not attending the idol consecration ceremony on January 22.
The Visva-Bharati will be closed for half a day on January 22 for the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, an official said.
As per the directive of the Union Education Ministry, all undergraduate and post-gradutate classes of the varsity will be suspended till 2.30 pm, said Visva-Bharati spokesperson Mahua Bandyopadhyay.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath instructed the Uttar Pradesh Culture Department to make all preparations to accord a grand welcome to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
To make this occasion grand and historic, 2500 folk artists will perform on 100 stages prepared by the Culture Department. Through various forms of dance, music, and singing, they will showcase the splendour of Treta Yuga in Ayodhya.
Folk dances from ‘Badhawa’ to ‘Ghumar’, songs dedicated to Lord Ram playing on loudspeakers, streets decked up with flowers, lights and saffron flags and people dressed up as Lord Ram, Sita and Hanuman — the temple town of Ayodhya is buzzing with activity ahead of the consecration ceremony at the newly constructed Ram temple.
Small stages have been constructed at multiple places on Ram Path which leads to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple. Folk dancers from across the country are performing different dances with passersby stopping to make videos and click selfies.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday announced a public holiday on January 22 in view of the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu visited the Ram temple during the day and also appealed to the people of the state to light earthen lamps at home on the occasion.
“The Central government has announced a half-day holiday on January 22 but we are announcing a full-day holiday…,” he told reporters outside the temple.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration declared a half-day holiday and a ‘dry day’ on January 22 on the occasion of the Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya.
“It is hereby ordered that half-day public holiday (till 02:30 pm) shall be observed on January 22 in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir,” an order issued by Commissioner Secretary General Administration Department (GAD) Sanjeev Verma said.
Mythri Movie Makers, one of the distributors of the Teja Sajja-starrer “HanuMan”, said would donate over Rs 2.6 crore to the Ram temple, a day before the consecration ceremony in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya.
The company said the film’s team had pledged Rs 5 from each ticket of “HanuMan” for the cause. Till now, the Telugu-language movie has sold 53,28,211 tickets, which amounts to Rs 2,66,41,055 as the sum of donation.
The much-awaited Ram temple consecration will be held here on Monday in a grand ceremony with Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending the rituals, following which the shrine will be opened for the public a day later.
The “Pran Pratishtha” ceremony will begin at 12.20 pm and is expected to end by 1 pm. The prime minister will then address a gathering of more than 7,000 people, including seers and prominent personalities, at the venue.
Lakhs of people are expected to watch the event live on TV and online platforms as BJP-ruled states and Odisha have declared a holiday while the central government has announced a half-day off.
As authorities made final preparations in a decked-up Ayodhya, considered the birthplace of Lord Ram, temples across the country and abroad have announced special festivities to mark the occasion.
Ten lakh earthen lamps or diyas will illuminate Ayodhya on Monday evening to celebrate the consecration of the Ram temple.
Diyas will be lit at 100 temples here, including the Ram Temple, and Ram Ki Paidi, Kanak Bhawan, Guptar Ghat, Sarayu Ghat, Lata Mangeshkar Chowk, Maniram Das Chavani, besides other prominent locations, officials said.
The much-awaited Ram temple consecration will be held here on Monday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the rituals, following which the shrine will be opened for the public a day later.
As the euphoria and public expectations around the grand Ram Temple opening on Monday reached the proverbial crescendo, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust announced on Sunday that the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony will be marked by a dazzling musical event titled ‘Mangal Dhwani’.
The soiree, featuring some of the biggest names in the world of music, will be staged 10 am on January 22.
The Trust said the programme will be make for a “momentous occasion for every Indian, bringing together diverse traditions in celebration and honour of Prabhu Shri Ram”.
