Consecration of 'Raja Ram', other deities held at Ram Temple in Ayodhya

The ritual was the second major consecration ceremony at the temple, the first being that of Ram Lalla on January 22, 2024, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Lucknow: The temple town of Ayodhya on Thursday witnessed yet another historic moment with the ‘pran-pratishtha (consecration) of 'Raja Ram' (King Rama) and eight deities along with the ‘Ram Darbar’ (Lord Rama’s court) on the occasion of ‘Ganga Dussehra’ in the Ram Temple complex.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath participated in the event as the chief guest.

The consecration of the eight deities including the ‘Ram Darbar’ took place in the ‘Abhijit Mhurta’ (a period considered to be highly auspicious for undertaking new activities) between 11.25 and 11.40 AM.

The rituals for the consecration started at six in the morning with the chanting of Vedic mantras by 101 acharyas, pundits and saints. The blowing of the conch shells and chanting of mantras by the priests added a spiritual color to the event.

The chief minister performed ‘puja’ of all the eight deity idols after which veils were taken off the idols at the Ram Darbar. The idol of King Rama was decorated with jewellery on this occasion.

The idols in the ‘Ram Darbar were those of Mata Sita (Lord Rama’s consort), Lord Hanuman and Lord Rama’s younger brother Laxam. The other deities which were consecrated included those of ‘Maa Annapurna’, Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva, the Sun god, and others. In eight temples within the Ram Temple complex.

Speaking after the consecration ceremonies, Adiyanath termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi the ‘Bhagirath’ (the sage, who brought forth Ganga river on the Earth), of the modern day for undertaking cleansing of the Ganga.

‘’The previous governments did not pay any attention to Ganga,’’ Adityanath, who turned 53 on Thursday, said.

Sculptor Satya Narayan Pandey said that the height of the Ram Darbar idols would now be seven feet with the throne.

The rituals for the consecration ceremonies had started on June 3. A large number of seers and saints from across the country attended the ceremonies.

Shree RamJanmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra general secretary Champat Rai said that June 5 was an auspicious day as Ganga Duessehra festival was being celebrated on that day. Ganga, according to the Hindu mythology, arrived on the Earth on this day.

The rituals for the pran pratishtha had begun with a ‘kalash yatra (a ritual carrying a pitcher) on June two followed by ‘pujan (worshipping) othe ‘yajna mandapam’ the next day.

Earlier the consecration of the idol of Ram Lala had taken place in the Ram Temple on January 22 last year in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief guest.