Joy on Ayodhya’s Streets Before Ram Mandir Ceremonies

The stage is set for the grand consecration ceremony for the Ram Mandir on Monday with the drums on colourful stages along the Ram Path that leads to the temple growing louder as afternoon gives way to evening. The crowds along the newly developed road grow thicker as an expectation took hold that a VIP would drive down and people lined the barricades.

A little distance away chief minister Yogi Adityanath had indeed arrived and was engaged in reviewing Monday’s arrangement. But he had no intention of driving through the city and chose to go over the fine print ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaching Ayodya in the morning. Police personnel perched on observation towers and drones were helping the state security apparatus keep an hawk eye on the ground situation.

The window for the consecration or the “Pran Prathistha” ceremony is small but Modi will first visit the arena where dozens of Hindu priests are offering prayers as square havan kund (where oblations are offered to a fire) before reaching the sanctum sanctorum where a new dark complexioned idol of boy Lord Ram aged around five has been placed.

There was barely standing space before the Hanuman Garhi temple which is not far from the mandir entrance. Men and women of all ages moved through the Bhakti Path in waves and surged up a narrow flight of state and the vaulting entrance. There were others who had completed their darshan and stood in knots, reluctant to walk on. The mood was upbeat and yet, despite the evident energy, quite relaxed.

Hundreds of people milling around the Ram Mandir and nearby areas will not be present within the temple on Monday. In fact they might it difficult to move around once tough security protocols kick in from Sunday night. And apart from the large number of local residents there are many from distant places within Uttar Pradesh itself and other states. It is easy to hear various languages on the streets as Ram bhakts move in clusters chattering with one another.

The ceremony’s importance, of Lord Ram’s return after a vanvas (exile) that much exceeded the 14 years recounted in the Ramayana, is clearly understood. The faithful who are singing, dancing or simply taking selfies, instinctively know the cultural, emotive and spiritual significance of the temple that will end the lord’s stay under the crumbling domes of a decrepit structure and then in a make shift tent and closed to the elements.

Also Read: Other Stories on Ayodhya