(Ram Temple symbolises image of a modern Bharat that 'revolted' against post-colonial power structures)
"This is a Temple of India's vision, India's philosophy, India's direction" -- PM Modi
In his speech on the epoch making occasion on Jan 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said - "Ram is the Faith of India,
Ram is the Foundation of India...Ram is the idea of India....Ram is the Glory of India. He also said, "This grand Ram Temple will become a witness to the rise of a grand India...".
Importantly, analysts say the success of the Ram Temple movement lay in the fact that it in effect graduated from a mere socio-religion yearning as a virtual revolt against post-colonial power structures in India.
Of course there is also a big picture message on what essentially Hindutva is. According to BJP vice president Abhinav Prakash, Hindutva has been not just a 'legacy' powerhouse of Faith and Religiosity, it successfully united 'subaltern' communities and sought to "overcome the caste system".
In the words of Prime Minister Modi himself , "This Temple teaches that if the goal is justified, if the goal is born of collective and organised power, then it is not impossible to achieve that goal. This is India's time ....". Of course coincidence by default and not necessarily 'designs', the Ram Mandir came during the beginning of Amrit Kal, as India is on a journey from 75-76th year towards the 100 years mark.
It's not merely the return of a virtuous king or the God; it reflects reclamation of the sovereignty of the Hindu Rashtra. Everyone seems to draw a message - Hindu Rashtra is 'achieveable', it's within a striking distance !!
(AI-generated video showing Ram Lalla’s idol at Ayodhya ‘blinking’ goes viral )
The doors of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya finally opened to the public on Jan 23, 2024.
Devotees have started thronging the temple grounds, eager to catch a glimpse of the newly installed idol of Ram Lalla.
A huge rush of devotees was witnessed outside the temple complex on this chilly winter's day, many of whom had queued up since 3 AM to gain entry to the temple, catch a glimpse of Ram Lalla and offer prayers.
Darshan was briefly paused due to an overwhelming influx of devotees. The temple administration, in coordination with police, made the decision to manage the immense crowd and ensure the safety of all visitors.
ADG Piyush Mordia of Lucknow Zone urged visitors to avoid unnecessary delays by taking photos and posting them on social media. He appealed to the public to follow police guidelines and cooperate with crowd control measures.
Additionally, vehicular movement has been temporarily halted near the Panch Kosi Parikrama path.
Ayodhya was enveloped in a spiritual ambience yesterday as the cold weather did little to dampen the high spirits of devotees. The air resonated with chants of 'Jai Shri Ram' and Ram bhajans, while folk dancers and a religious troupe from Bhopal added to the vibrant atmosphere with a 'palki yatra'.
The Uttar Pradesh Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) band contributed to the joyous occasion by playing patriotic tunes along the streets of Ayodhya. As dusk fell, residents lit diyas outside their homes, reminiscent of the festival of Diwali for Lord Ram’s homecoming, and the night sky was illuminated by the glow of fireworks.
The temple is expected to draw lakhs of pilgrims and tourists, eager to witness the divine structure and offer their prayers, in the coming days.
After participating in the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony, PM Modi said the consecration of the idol of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya marks the advent of a new era and gave a call to people to go beyond the Ram temple's construction to build the foundation of a strong, grand and divine India of the next 1,000 years.
In remarks aimed at critics, he said some people used to say that the Ram Mandir's construction would set off a fire in the country and asked them to reconsider their views. Ram is not fire but energy, Ram is not dispute but solution, Ram is not merely ours but of everyone and Ram is not only the present but also eternal, he said, adding that the temple is also a symbol of peace, patience, harmony and amity in Indian society.
He also expressed his gratitude to the Supreme Court for doing justice and paving the way for the temple's construction at the once disputed site by law.
With his speech being heard across the country, the Prime Minister sought to strike an emotional chord with the masses saying "our Ram" has arrived after wait, patience and sacrifices of centuries.
"Our Ram Lalla will no longer live in a tent. Our Ram Lalla will stay in a magnificent temple," PM Modi said in his address.
Ayodhya-bound vehicles barred entry after massive turnout at Ram Mandir
Degrees of devotion reach new heights in the journey of faith in Ayodhya
A youth rubbed his face into the ground each time while pulling his body forward on way to the Ram Mandir, a ritual he started from Hanuman Garhi, some 1.5 km away. ('Hindustan Times' snap)
Totally unmindful of the sea of humanity that had descended in Ayodhya on Tuesday, this devotee held a saffron flag and kept moving forward as a man in saffron clothes walked besides him chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’.
A girl also moved ahead of him, clearing the ground with her hands as security forces also respectfully gave way to the group.
“Mere Ram aaye hain ... mere prabhu aaye hain ... 500 saal baad, main unse milne ja raha hoon (my Ram has come, my lord has arrived, and I am going to meet him),” the youth said.
“He took a pledge that he would visit the Ram Temple like this. He is merely keeping a promise he made to himself,” said the man accompanying the youth while explaining that the process was part of the “self-torture” people afflict themselves with to atone for sins, whether committed by them or for others.
Dhruv Upadhyay, 20, from Kanpur, a student of BA Sanskrit from Delhi University (DU) walked barefoot with his mother to the Ram Mandir.
“It’s the joy of witnessing the sight of Ram in his abode. Imagine so many of our brothers were killed for this (temple movement) in 1990. In fact, I came without telling my father, a police officer, as he was away. As I was setting out, my mother also decided to accompany me. So, here we are,” he said, according to 'Hindustan Times'.
“Controlling devotees is difficult. Yesterday evening itself after the consecration event, pressure had started building up and some of them driven by faith even tried to break the barriers. Some, including us, sustained minor injuries but what can you do? You can’t treat devotees like outlaws,” an officer of the Rapid Protection Force (RPF) said.
Another RPF officer appeared elated that he managed to have both the ‘darshan and get the prasad’ too. “This Ram Temple is like a dream come true for millions and this includes us as well,” said this officer, an OBC from Kannauj.
An officer was seen helping a wheelchair-bound devotee enter the Ram Mandir. At another place Rakesh Mago, a wheelchair-bound lawyer from Punjab and his family, praised the police for helping them.
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