Bhagwan Ram idol to be placed in ‘garbh griha’ of Mandir on Jan 18
Piyush Gautam
Ayodhya : In preparation for the historic consecration ceremony of the Ram Lalla idol on January 22nd, formal rituals have begun at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi complex in Ayodhya on Tuesday. The pre-Prana Pratistha sacraments, set to continue until January 21st. The consecration ceremony will take place in the presence of dignitaries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Champat Rai, the general secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, revealed the schedule for the Pran Pratishtha program, stating that it will start at 12:20 pm and conclude by 1:00 pm on January 22nd. The event will witness the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust Chairman Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, along with numerous trustees, saints, religious leaders, and distinguished personalities from various fields.
Champat Rai further mentioned that the engineers and workers involved in the construction of the Ram temple will also be included in the ceremony. The timing of Pratistha has been determined by Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid during the Abhijeet Nakshatra, and the entire consecration ritual will be supervised by Laxmikant Dixit ji of Varanasi.
The idol of Ram Lala, weighing between 150 to 200 kg, will undergo rituals before the Prana Pratistha, including being placed in water, fruits, and other ceremonial items. To finalize the program of Prana Pratistha, the darshan of Ram Lalla will be closed on January 20th and 21st. The temple trust has appointed a host to lead the atonement ceremony. The ceremonies include the ‘Dashvidh’ bath, Lord Vishnu worship, and a symbolic cow offering along the Saryu riverbanks.
The idol of Lord Ram will be placed in the garbhagriha of the temple on January 18 ahead of the consecration ceremony scheduled on January 22. During the ceremony, seers from different sects and thousands of devotees are expected to be present.
Mahant Nritya Gopal Das Lights 108-Foot Incense Stick
The head of Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, lit a massive 108-foot-long incense stick at the Ram Janmabhoomi site. Especially brought from Gujarat, the incense stick, weighing 3,610 kg, was lit amidst a crowd chanting “Jai Shri Ram.” Crafted with a mix of cow dung, ghee, essence, flower extracts, and herbs, it is believed that the fragrance will spread over a distance of 50 km. The unique ritual adds a cultural touch to the preparations for the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony in Ayodhya.
This monumental event is expected to bring together representatives from over 150 traditions, sects, and dignitaries from various fields to witness the consecration of the idol, marking a significant milestone in the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. The ceremonies, meticulously planned and executed, aim to infuse a sense of spirituality and sanctity into the historical moment.
