India is gearing up for the much-awaited ‘Pran Pratistha’ (consecration) ceremony at the Ram Temple in the pilgrim city of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh on January 22 with several states and the central government announcing a clutch of events to mark the occasion.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the chief guest for the event when he will inaugurate the temple in the holy city, believed to be the birthplace of Lord Ram.
Meanwhile, several states have declared holidays and half days to mark the occasion.
In Goa, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has announced a public holiday on January 22.
The Haryana government under Manohar Lal Khattar announced a holiday for all schools on the same day.
Madhya Pradesh, where the Bharatiya Janata Party returned to power last year, declared the day as a holiday for all educational institutions. The government also announced that January 22 will be observed as a ‘dry day’ in the state.
In Assam, the state government offices and educational institutions will have half-day till 2.30 pm.
All state government offices as well as the revenue and magisterial courts (executive) in Odisha will also observe a half day till 2.30 pm. In Gujarat, all government offices will observe a half day on January 22 as well.
Arrangements made for parking at 51 places in Ayodhya
The Uttar Pradesh government has made comprehensive arrangements for parking at 51 designated locations
with a capacity of 22,825 vehicles in Ayodhya Dham during the consecration ceremony of Lord Ram, ADG Traffic BD Paulson informed.
These places are conveniently marked on Google Maps to facilitate access for guests.
Special parking provisions have been made for VVIPs, VIPs, and other guests, ensuring a well-organized and equipped setup, including wireless and public announcement systems, reported UNI.
Paulson said that these include five spots on Rampath, one on Bhakti Path Marg, four on Dharma Path Marg, five on Parikrama Marg, two on Bandha Marg, one on Tehri Bazaar Rampath to Mahobra Marg, and seven places on Tehri Bazaar Rampath to Unwal Marg.
Parking arrangements cover two spots on the Ayodhya to Gonda route, ten on NH 27, seven in Tirtha Kshetra Puram, three around Karsevak Puram tent city, and four at Ramkatha Mandapam tent city. These parking lots have been built on government, Nazul, private, and tourism department lands. Apart from this, vehicles will also be parked in the multilevel parking lot built in Ayodhya Dham.
Circle Officer (CO) Traffic Rajesh Tiwari said that six parking spaces located at Rampath and Bhakti Path have been reserved for the vehicles of VVIP guests. Over 1225 vehicles from VVIP guests will be parked here.
Rituals of Lord Ram’s idol continue in Ayodhya before consecration
The idol seated on the ‘aasan’ in the sanctum sanctorum of the grand temple at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi in Ramnagari Ayodhya was given a bath with 81 pitchers as a part of the consecration ritual of Ram Lalla on Saturday.
Arun Kumar Dixit, who is conducting the rituals for the consecration of Lord Ramlala, told UNI that to purify the idol installed on aasan, it was bathed with water containing various medicines from 81 pots amidst the chanting of Vedic mantras.
He said that the idol of Lord Rama was first kept in Shakradhivas and then in Phaladhivas. After this, a bath was taken with water containing various medicines collected in 81 pitchers.
He said that the ritual of consecration in the Ram temple started today at 9 am on the fifth day, and the puja ritual continued till the evening.
Dixit said that the deity was invited in the pavilion, and his worship and havan was performed, which continued till the afternoon.
Pooja Havan was performed again from 2 pm to 6 pm. He said that after this, the process was completed by placing the idol in Pushpadhivas.