As the highly anticipated consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya approaches, Champat Rai, the general secretary of Sri Ram Janambhoomi Trust, expressed on Saturday that the installation of the idol of Ram Lalla at the shrine signifies the restoration of India’s honor.
In an interview with ANI, Rai stated, “The eventual installation of the idol of Ram Lalla at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple will give me a feeling of immense satisfaction. I believe that the strides we have made so far in raising the temple marks the restoration of India’s honour.”
He likened those involved in achieving this milestone to the unsung heroes of the country’s independence struggle. Rai emphasized the importance of all individuals who contributed to the Ram Temple movement, highlighting the unity of people from Ayodhya, erstwhile princely states, and seers from across the country.
Rai asserted, “The people of Ayodhya, erstwhile princely states in our neighbourhood, and seers from all over the country came together for the Ram Temple movement post-1983. The issue of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, in time, came to be synonymous with our national pride and prestige.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend the installation of the idol of Lord Ram at the grand temple on January 22. Preparations for the event are underway, with invitations extended to political and religious leaders, as well as Bollywood actors, including Amitabh Bachchan.
The Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust has set the date for the enthronement of Ram Lalla at the sanctum-sanctorum of the Ram Temple at noon on January 22 next year. Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama, holds immense spiritual, historical, and cultural significance for the people of India.
The trust has invited 4,000 saints of all sects for the ceremony, with Vedic rituals for the Pran-Pratishtha (consecration) ceremony of Ram Lalla beginning on January 16, a week before the main ceremony. Ayodhya will mark the Amrit Mahautsav from January 14 to January 22, with a 1008 Hundi Mahayagya and several tent cities being organized to accommodate thousands of devotees.
Local authorities are gearing up for the expected surge in visitors, implementing enhanced security measures and logistical arrangements to ensure a smooth and spiritually enriching experience for all attendees.