News Letter from Ayodhya
March 19th, 2025 was Wednesday. There was no important Hindu tithi -- or pooja day. There was no much crowd as locals in the holy township said, -- still "Indian crowd" is always there. The desi version is -- Bhir !!
There's no running away from reality. But the pilgrim day for me turned uniquely successful. A day to celebrate and cherish.
But it is also the day of Learning.
A day -- one can recognise the potential of Hindu assertion. It is also significant from the Civilisational perspective.
As you walk along to reach the main temple in the Dharmanagri; you will soon rediscover the power of faith.
Its not merely Hindu assertion. It is the assertion of the right against the odds and wrongdoers. It is an assertion that a distorted history based on medieval expanionist and conversion concepts have been rejected by India's highest court and also the millions of people.
At the temple complex, the Ram Bhakts are just great believers. People may give credit to Narendra Modi and the BJP but most pilgrims say -- for the righteous, justice might have been delayed for centuries, but it had to come.
'Jai Shri Ram' is not merely a slogan. It is clamour of freedom from fear and freedom from injustice.
Maharashtra-based Trilokeshwar Bhau says: "I never support BJP ... I am from a Congress family from my great grandfather days. But it is true; Ayodhya’s story was central to the BJP’s rise."
Trilokeshwar is in Ayodhya for Ram Darshan with a group of devotees of men and women of 84 from his village.
He discards the debate that Ayodhya temple has pushed Hindu Majoritarianism as a political language. But he equally says the Congress and other opposition parties did a mistake by boycotting the inauguration ceremony on Jan 22, 2024.
 |
| "I am a Ram Bhakt ... that's my identity" |
 |
| Poornima Devi is from Varanasi : "I attained a special peace and wisdom" |
 |
| Trilokeshwar Bhau, Maharashtra |
Gagan Omkar from Karnataka's Hubli says - "The Ayodhya message is not simply of Hindu triumph, it is about civilisational values.
“We must not bow down any more. We must not sit down any more,” he said referring to PM Modi's speech delivered on Jan 22 after inauguration at Ayodhya.
Shaurya Prasad from Jhansi said - "Coming to Ayodhya was the wisest decision of my life. There is a feeling of self-satisfaction. I never donate anything to temples ... Today I donated here Rs 5000 as my homage to God Ram and hundreds of those Ram Bhakts an Kar Sevaks who lost their lives".
What did he really 'learn' and realise about life today - I asked.
His eyes turned moist.
"I have property disputes with my brothers. We are living in a world that’s constantly making us to be selfish and go away from brotherhood and humanity. We want fight between my gain (mera faida) over your loss. It is worse than the law of the jungle. And Ram an Ramayana teach us that as humans, we need to love and share and do the opposite of what we are doing otherwise".
In a place like this you are bound to meet non-believers and also radical pro-Hindutva activists.
One 30 something bachelor from Haryana was emphatic stating - "It was a grand victory for the Hindus that Babars children and supporters were taught a lesson by the court of law. Now the onus is on us .... we should get back all other temples which were destroyed".
Louis Chhedi came from Netherlands. They are abroad for four generations spread across South America including Surinam and also Netherlands.
"I came to India this time with my wife to pay tributes to God Ram and hundred others who laid down their lives to give back Ram Lalla his home.
What a triumph ?," he said.
 |
| Blogger with Chhedi and other pilgrims |
But he noted that the temple complex is still under construction and hundreds of engineers are others are seen working at a safe distance.
Gowri Nayana, 72, came from Maharashtra. To a question from this scribe, she said - "Yes, many people in my village said Narendra Modi was in hurry to inaugurate the temple in January 2024.
They also said the reason was political and not religious. But I am glad it was inaugurated. Today I am healthy enough to visit Ayodhya. After five years I cannot come".
But local temple authorities say there is adequate arrangements even for aging and handicapped people to get Darshan pray at Ram temple as wheel chairs are made available at prior request.
 |
| Madam Moni and Team from Shivsagar, Assam |
 |
| To be handicapped is not a hurdle for Ram Lalla Darshan |
 |
| Gowri ji |
Ayodhya's grand Ram Mandir inauguration was like a moment decades in the making for millions of Hindus across the globe.
But this historical and civilisational spirit still continues.
There were a group of students from Basti (in Uttar Pradesh) who arrived Ayodhya on completion of their Class 12 examination.
"We had thought about this trip before hand. Ram and Ayodhya is a must visit hub now for people of our age," said one of them.
Wrap up
My mother-in-law accompanied us during the visit. At the end of an enthralling day though exhaustive one, Mrs Jharna Deb (a resident from Kamalpur, Tripura) made a special mention --
"The arrangements by the Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust are near perfection ...Thousands and thousands of devotees are able to get the Ram Lalla's blessings and Darshan. The pilgrims also get a packet of Prasadam each," said Jharna Deb, a retired Tripura government official.
"I was thrilled to meet a couple from Netherlands (Holland)... they were of Indian origin but had problem with Hindi. I too have my limitation. But thanks to Ram's power, we had fantastic communication and became friends," she said.
"What left me awe-struck was that thousands of poor people are also getting employment. Tourism brings job and prosperity. Our small state Tripura is also enchanting, authorities concerned should do the needful to promote multiple kinds of hospitality industry and help our young boys and girls," she added.
JAI SHRI RAM
 |
| Jharna Deb and her priceless daughter -'wife of a blogger' !! |
No comments:
Post a Comment