Long wait ends, Ayodhya in euphoria on eve of new dawn | India News

AYODHYA: The air is fragrant with incense and flowers, and the skyline is a luminescent kaleidoscope. The streets have just had another wash, just in case a speck of dust went unnoticed on the previous occasion. Every few hundred metres, a stage comes alive with folk artists going through their paces in a vibrant medley of sights and sounds.

Ram Path, the holy town’s artery, marches to a rhythm divine as a relentless stream of visitors make their way through it, singing “Ram aayenge” and “Ek hi naara ek hi naam, Jai Sri Ram Jai Sri Ram”.On the eve of Ram Lalla‘s consecration, Ayodhya has travelled back in time to recreate in the present age all the grandeur and fervour of Ram’s homecoming in Treta Yug.
At the stroke of 12.29.08pm Monday, 121 Vedic priests will perform the “pran pratishtha” (consecration) of the 51-inch idol of Ram Lalla in the presence of PM Narendra Modi, for whom it will be the culmination of an 11-day spiritual journey that started from Kala Rama temple in Nashik on January 12.
Music instruments from 25 states will be played for nearly two hours to produce “mangal dhwani” before the start of the main rituals, sources said.
The “mool muhurt” in which the consecration is to take place will last 84 seconds, during which Modi will remove the idol’s blindfold from behind and apply kajal with a small gold stick. He will then show a small mirror to the deity. This will be followed by a ‘maha arti’ by illuminating 108 diyas, concluding the consecration ceremony.
The PM will also interact with labourers involved in the construction of the temple and visit the Kuber Tila, where the ancient Shiva temple has been restored. He will perform a puja at the shrine.
Fifteen ‘yajmans’ drawn from different social groups will accompany Modi.
Modi is scheduled to reach the temple around 11am and remain inside the complex for about three-and-a-half hours for the ceremony, followed by a public meeting.
President Droupadi Murmu wrote to the PM Sunday, saying the consecration ceremony at Ayodhya would mark the completion of “an important civilisational journey”.
After the consecration, the temple will open its doors to devotees. Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has requested people to plan their temple visit after January 27, by which time it expects the initial rush to ebb.
Despite the request, a large number of faithful descended on the city before its borders were sealed. “We will leave the city only after having a darshan of Ram Lalla once it’s allowed,” said a devotee from Bengal.
At 8.30pm Sunday, CM Yogi carried the old idol of Ram Lalla from the makeshift temple to the sanctum sanctorum of the new temple.
Adityanath had arrived in the afternoon for a final review of the preparations. Two teams of NSG snipers, six teams of ATS commandos equipped with anti-drone technology, and 15,000 police and paramilitary personnel are being deployed for Monday, UP DG (law and order) Prashant Kumar said.
Divisional commissioner of Ayodhya Gaurav Dayal said, “A control room has been set up to coordinate with the state guests. We are updating the details of distinguished guests over a centralised spreadsheet and the departments and agencies concerned are being alerted to make the required arrangements for the guests.”
Vice-chairman of Ayodhya Development Authority Vishal Singh said, “Not many would realise that the major makeover and transformation work on Ayodhya city has been achieved in a span of one year. It was a challenging task for all of us, but we are glad that all the important milestones were achieved by Sunday evening.”
Aware that people from different cultures and backgrounds would visit the city, 400 signboards in 11 major languages have been put at important landmarks. Gas-powered heaters have been placed at 300 locations to help people beat the cold. Around 25 tourist facilitation centres have been set up with guides who speak prominent regional languages, policemen to deal with emergencies, and paramedics to provide assistance when necessary.
Besides three dozen upscale hotels, 1,200 homestays have been made operational. Eight tent cities have also been set up, with the largest one having 25,000 beds.
Over 7,000 invitees are expected, including 92 state guests representing 50 countries. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, temple trust chairman Nritya Gopal Das, former President Ramnath Kovind, former V-P Venkaiah Naidu, industrialists Mukesh Ambani, Lakshmi Mittal and Gautam Adani, actors Amitabh Bachchan and Rajnikant, cricketers Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar, and former CJI SA Bobde will be at the ceremony. Former deputy PM LK Advani is unlikely to attend, sources said.
Thirty-eight lawyers who were part of the legal battle in the Ayodhya title suit have already arrived to be part of the ceremony.