AYODHYA, Jan 23: Following the consecration of the new Ram Lalla idol, the doors of the Ram temple in Ayodhya welcomed the general public on Tuesday. Devotees, including locals and visitors from other states, gathered outside the main gates for hours since late Monday night, braving the biting cold to enter the premises.
Carrying flags adorned with Lord Ram’s visage and chanting “Jai Shri Ram,” the devotees expressed their joy as they waited for the grand temple doors to open. Manish Verma, a devotee from Punjab, remarked, “Felt so delighted, my life’s aim has been fulfilled. Our ancestors struggled for this, and it has been brought to fruition. The arrangement should continue like this, and the name of Lord Ram should reign for ages.”
The consecration of the new Ram Lalla idol took place at the Ayodhya temple on Monday, a historic event led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Modi emphasized the significance of the date, January 22, 2024, stating, “It is not merely a date in the calendar but heralds the advent of a new era.” The prime minister performed rituals in the ‘garbha griha (sanctum sanctorum)’ during an 84-second ‘Abhijeet muhurta’ starting at 12.29 pm. He prostrated himself before the 51-inch idol depicting the child Ram.
In his address, Modi called the day a milestone and spoke about building a foundation for a “strong, capable, and divine” India for the next 1,000 years. The ceremony was attended by seers, prominent figures from various fields, and those involved in the decades-long Ram Janmabhoomi movement.
For the general public, the doors of the temple opened on Tuesday morning, attracting devotees who had been waiting for hours, some even camping in Ayodhya since before the consecration ceremony. Nitish Kumar, who cycled more than 600 kilometers from Bihar, expressed hope to have ‘darshan’ and stated, “Though I couldn’t go to the temple on Monday, what a day it was to be in Ayodhya.”
The devotees, undeterred by the massive rush, chanted “Jai Shri Ram” as they walked into the temple complex. Inside, the grand halls echoed with the same chants. The temple complex, built in the traditional Nagara style, is an architectural marvel, attracting visitors from far and wide.
As devotees relished the historic moment, the temple gates turned into selfie spots adorned with flowers and lights. Lakhs of people across the nation watched the consecration ceremony on television, while those present in Ayodhya savored the momentous occasion with folk dances, ‘palki yatra,’ and spirited chants of “Jai Shri Ram.”
