Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh - April 08 : This Ram Navami, devotees in Ayodhya can witness a unique celestial spectacle. Scientists are working tirelessly to create a system that will use the sun's rays to apply a tilak (mark) on the forehead of the idol of Ramlala (Lord Rama) for four minutes.

In preparation for this celestial event, a team of scientists, primarily from the Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee, is installing an optomechanical system within the Ram Temple. The intricate setup involves two mirrors and a lens on the ground floor, with sunlight channeled from a mirror on the third floor through a series of lenses and mirrors to create a focused beam. This focused beam will then form a 75 mm circular tilak on Ramlala's forehead at noon.

"The preparations for Surya Tilak (Sun Tilak) are being undertaken with utmost care," said Nripendra Mishra, Chairman of the temple construction committee. "The efforts of the scientists hold promise of a successful outcome on Ram Navami."

To ensure a smooth experience for devotees and avoid overcrowding, live telecasts of the event will be displayed on around 100 LED screens across the city. Temple authorities have also urged devotees to consider celebrating and worshipping from their homes to avoid crowds.

Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, has witnessed a significant rise in devotees visiting the newly consecrated Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple since January 22nd, 2024. Over one crore and twelve lakh devotees have performed darshan (holy viewing) of Ramlala in just three months. This marks a sharp increase compared to previous years.

Daily footfall currently averages between one lakh and 1.25 lakh devotees, with numbers even higher during festivals and on Tuesdays, considered auspicious. The surge is attributed to the temple's consecration, a long-awaited event for many Hindus.

According to the State Tourism Department, this trend reflects a broader increase in Ayodhya's pilgrimage numbers since 2017, when the Deepotsav festival began. Here's a glimpse into the past few years:

• 2017: 1,78,57,858 devotees (1,78,32,717 Indian, 25,141 foreign)
• 2018: 1,95,63,159 devotees (1,95,34,824 Indian, 28,335 foreign)
• 2019: 2,04,91,724 devotees (2,04,63,403 Indian, 28,331 foreign)
• 2020: 61,96,148 devotees (61,93,537 Indian, 2,611 foreign) - Affected by the pandemic
• 2021: 1,57,43,359 devotees (1,57,43,359 Indian, 431 foreign)
• 2022: 2,21,38,805 devotees (2,21,12,402 Indian, 26,403 foreign)
• 2023: 5,75,15,423 devotees (5,75,07,005 Indian, 8,418 foreign)

The influx of devotees has had a positive impact on the local economy. Shops, restaurants, hotels, and vendors are experiencing a boom in business. The Uttar Pradesh government, under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, is actively developing Ayodhya to accommodate the growing number of visitors. This includes expanding road networks, constructing a world-class airport and railway station, and enhancing infrastructure within the city. As Ayodhya continues its transformation, it's poised to become an even more prominent pilgrimage destination for Hindus worldwide.

Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh: Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra, along with her husband Nick Jonas and daughter Malti Marie Chopra, visited the holy town of Ayodhya on Wednesday to seek blessings at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple.

This comes just days after Priyanka's appearance at Isha Ambani's Holi party. Pictures from both events have been doing the rounds on social media.

Priyanka donned a traditional yellow Punjabi dress for the temple visit, while Nick Jonas and Malti Marie also sported traditional attire. The family was seen offering prayers at the Ram Lalla shrine.

Priyanka recently returned to India, attending an event before being joined by Nick Jonas. The couple was then spotted together at Ritesh Sidhwani's party. Fans can next look forward to seeing Priyanka Chopra in Farhan Akhtar's upcoming film "Jee Le Zara."

Ayodhya/Jaipur, March 11 - Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma embarked on his first visit to Ayodhya after the consecration of Lord Ram Lalla, leading a delegation comprising his Council of Ministers and MLAs. The Chief Minister, along with his entourage, arrived in Ayodhya on Monday to pay homage to Lord Ram at the revered Shri Ram temple.

The visit of Chief Minister Sharma and his team turned Ayodhya into a symbolic extension of Rajasthan's governance, as ministers, MPs, MLAs, Chief Secretary, and senior officials accompanied him. Chief Minister Sharma expressed his deep reverence for Lord Ram, highlighting that Ram is the core of their beliefs and resides within every individual.

Upon their arrival, the delegation participated in various religious activities, including chanting of 'Jai Shri Ram' and recitation of Hanuman Chalisa. Chief Minister Sharma also interacted with the workers and artisans involved in the construction of the Ram temple, acknowledging their efforts and dedication.

Chief Minister Sharma, along with other dignitaries, also attended the bhoomi pujan and foundation stone laying ceremony of the Saraswati Devi Shiv Kishan Dammani Bhavan, organized by the All India Maheshwari Seva Sadan Pushkar at Dashrath Kund in Ayodhya. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Chief Minister Sharma participated in the ceremony with fervent devotion.

Reflecting on the significance of the visit, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to offer prayers at the grand temple of Lord Shri Ram in Ayodhya. He praised the determination of devotees and their five-century-long struggle, which culminated in the construction of the magnificent temple.

Chief Minister Sharma also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his dedication to developing the spiritual and cultural sectors of the country. He noted that temples, as symbols of Sanatan culture, are being renovated and developed under the Prime Minister's leadership, attracting devotees worldwide.

Praising the philanthropic efforts of the Maheshwari Samaj, Chief Minister Sharma expressed confidence that the building being constructed in Ayodhya by the community will provide exemplary services to devotees. Swami Govindgiri Ji Maharaj, Treasurer of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, highlighted the cultural resurgence of Ayodhya, describing it as the cultural capital of the world.

The visit of Chief Minister Sharma and his delegation was marked by a sense of spiritual rejuvenation and cultural enrichment, symbolizing the deep-rooted faith and reverence for Lord Ram in the hearts of the people of Rajasthan.

Surat: Over 1300 Ram devotees from Surat Lok Sabha constituency embarked on a spiritual journey to Ayodhya today, aboard a special "Aastha Special Train" organized by the Indian Railways. The train departed from Udhna Railway Station at 6:00 PM, carrying enthusiastic pilgrims eager to witness the newly inaugurated Shri Ram temple.

Union Minister Darshanaben Jardosh, Surat City BJP President Niranjan Jhanjmera, and other dignitaries graced the departure ceremony, welcoming the pilgrims and sending them off with blessings. An air of excitement and devotion filled the station as devotees chanted slogans of "Jai Shri Ram" and waved saffron flags. Leaders interacted with pilgrims in each coach, offering their well wishes and thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and state BJP leaders for facilitating the pilgrimage.

This special train service, launched to cater to the surge in devotees visiting Ayodhya after the temple inauguration, offers a convenient and affordable travel option. The Railway Administration made meticulous arrangements for the journey, ensuring a comfortable and memorable experience for the pilgrims.

As the train pulled out of the station, the atmosphere reverberated with chants of "Jai Shri Ram," marking the beginning of a momentous pilgrimage for the Surat devotees. Their journey reflects the widespread devotion to Lord Ram and the cultural significance of the Shri Ram temple in Ayodhya.

New Delhi, Feb 10 (IANS) Addressing the last sitting of the 17th Lok Sabha on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the resolution passed by the House on the Ram Temple will give the future generations constitutional strength to feel proud of the country’s values.

The views that were expressed by the members during the discussion in this House sent out the message of “sensitivity, resolution, sympathy, and sabka saath sabka vikas”, Modi said amid ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans from the ruling party benches.

“Everyone does not have the courage, and as a result they run away,” the PM said, taking a swipe at the Congress, which had stayed away from the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of the Ram Lalla at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22.

Ahead of Modi’s address, the Lok Sabha passed a resolution following an animated discussion on the “the construction of the historic Shri Ram Temple and Pran Pratishtha of Shri Ram”.

Taking a jibe again at the opposition members, Modi said the elections are not very far and a few might be nervous because of the same.

"However, it is a fact that our elections are an essential aspect of our democratic traditions. The elections will elevate the pride of the country and follow the democratic tradition," he said, adding that the world is surprised by India's strong democratic traditions.

In his last speech in the Lok Sabha before the 2024 general elections, Modi recalled the success of India’s G20 Presidency.

“India got the opportunity of G20 Presidency which was a great honour for the country. Even the states of the country displayed their capability and identified with the whole world during the G20 meetings and programmes," the Prime Minister said, adding, “The impact of what the states displayed continues to be there in the mind of the world even today.”

Recalling the list of achievements of the 17th Lok Sabha, the PM said that repeal of Article 370 was one of the decisions for which many generations waited for long.

Article 370 was scrapped during the term of this Lok Sabha in August 2019.

“I feel that those who drafted the Constitution will be showering blessings on us for this,” Modi pointed out.

"It is a matter of great satisfaction to fulfil the commitment that we made to the brothers and sisters of Jammu and Kashmir," the Prime Minister said.

"We made strict laws to eliminate terrorism that used to take the lives of innocent people earlier. The new laws that this House made give everyone courage and confidence now," he added.

Lucknow, Feb 9 (IANS) With 'Ram dhun' playing along the journey, Uttar Pradesh legislators will travel in luxury buses to Ayodhya to offer prayers at the Ram temple on Sunday.

Ten super luxury buses of the Uttar Pradesh State Roadways Transport Corporation have been made available for the spiritual journey.

These buses will be parked at the gates of the state Assembly on Sunday morning.

Uttar Pradesh Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh has directed that the external and internal cleanliness of these buses should be ensured and curtains should be installed.

For safety reasons, all buses must have fire extinguishers and first aid kits. Ram dhun will be played in the buses.

The driver/conductor will have name plate attached to their uniforms.

The MLAs will return to Lucknow the same day after offering prayers at the temple.

Ayodhya, Jan 29 (IANS) To ensure better crowd management and reduce long queues of devotees in the Ram temple complex, the Ayodhya administration and Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust decided to develop a holding area in the pilgrim facilitation centre.

After the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of Ram Lalla on January 22, the Ayodhya administration has been grappling with the problem of crowd management.

To address the issue, the state government has constituted a committee comprising officials of the Ayodhya administration and Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust for proper coordination to manage the crowd and other affairs related to the Ram Mandir.

Divisional Commissioner, Gaurav Dayal, who heads the committee, has suggested developing a holding area at the pilgrim facilitation centre of the temple where devotees could stay for some time before allowing them to enter the main complex of the temple.

"This will ease the pressure of devotees in the temple complex and also reduce long queues," he said.

All prominent temples in South India have big holding areas to reduce pressure on devotees in the temple complex. The Ram Mandir complex has a pilgrim facilitation centre, but a holding area in the facility needs to be developed.

It has also been decided that the Trust would appoint more security staff from the private agency engaged by it due to the unprecedented crowd for the darshan of Ram Lalla.

Regarding the issue of sanitation in the temple complex, the Commissioner directed the private agency hired by the Trust to maintain cleanliness in the temple complex by recruiting more staff for proper sanitation.

The agency was also instructed to place dustbins at various locations, including at the spot where devotees undergo frisking before entering the temple.

IG, Ayodhya range, Praveen Kumar, suggested the Trust to put up an artificial intelligence-based cameras at the temple's entrance and exit.

Ayodhya, Jan 25 (IANS) An offering of Rs 3.17 crore was made online to Ram Lalla on the first day after the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony.

Anil Mishra, trustee of Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, said that 10 donation counters had been opened on the day of Pran Pratishtha. Apart from this, many devotees from across the country and the world sent online donations to Lord Ram.

According to Mishra, more than five lakh devotees visited the temple on Tuesday and an equal number on Wednesday.

He said that the Rs 3.17 crore received online on Tuesday and the amount received on Wednesday would be revealed after tabulation, the next day.

Physical donations made in the week will be counted every Monday, Mishra said.

The official said that arrangements are being made in consultation with the administration to ensure that darshan at the temple remains well organised.

Meanwhile, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale held a meeting with all officials of the Trust.

He has instructed Sangh workers around Ayodhya to accept the responsibility of cleaning the temple and cooperate in conducting well-organised temple darshan.

The Ashok Singhal Foundation, in a press release on Wednesday, announced its contribution to the construction of the Ram Mandir and expressed gratitude for being a part of the historic Pran Pratishtha ceremony.

As a symbol of gratitude, the Ashok Singhal Foundation distributed a biography of Ashok Singhal, a Ram Stambh brochure, along with a souvenir of a silver coin dedicated to Lord Shri Ram to all the attendees of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony on January 22, 2024.

The trustee of the Ashok Singhal Foundation, Mahesh Bhagchandka, along with his wife, Sunita Bhagchandka, performed the 'puja' ceremony as Yajman from January 18 to 21, completing all the sacred rituals.

Ayodhya, Jan 23 (IANS) ‘Aarti’ will be performed at the Ram temple, now known as 'Balak Ram temple’, six times a day.

After the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the deity on Monday, there is going to be a change in his worship and aarti also. The entire method has been systematized.

“Now Ashtyam Seva of Ram Lalla will be held in all eight hours of 24 hours. Apart from this, aarti of Ram Lalla will be performed six times. Passes will be issued to attend the aarti. Till now there were two aartis of Ram Lalla Virajman,” said Acharya Mithileshnandini Sharan, the instructor of Ram Lalla’s priests.

He said that now the aartis will include Mangala, Shringaar, Bhog, Uthapan, Sandhya and Shayan aarti.

Mangala Aarti is meant to awaken God. The deity will be decorated in Shringaar Aarti. Puri-sabzi-kheer will be offered in Bhog Aarti. Uthapan Aarti is performed to remove the evil eye on Ram Lalla. Sandhya Aarti is done in the evening and then Shayan Aarti before putting the Lord to sleep.

Apart from offering puri-vegetables, rabri-kheer, Ram Lalla will also be offered milk, fruits and pedas every hour in the afternoon.

Ram Lalla will wear white on Monday, red on Tuesday, green on Wednesday, yellow on Thursday, cream on Friday, blue on Saturday and pink on Sunday. On special days, the deity will wear yellow clothes.

Darshan will be held from 6.00 a.m.

Lucknow, Jan 23 (IANS) A day after the Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya, Tuesday was witnessing huge crowds at various Hanuman temples.

Tuesday being the day of worship for Hanuman, his temples are now witnessing huge footfalls, despite chilly weather and dense fog.

Long queues of devotees lined at almost all Hanuman temples across the state on Tuesday and this is being directly linked to the opening of Ram temple in Ayodhya.

“There is a huge rush at Hanuman Garhi temple in Ayodhya and this is mainly because it is customary for devotees to visit this temple before visiting the Ram temple,” said Ram Kumar, a regular visitor to this temple.

In Lucknow, despite bone-chilling cold, the Hanuman temples were jammed with devotees.

“We could not visit Ayodhya for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony so we decided to offer prayers at Hanuman temple. Because of the huge rush, we may not be able to go to Ayodhya for some time,” said Meenu Sharma, a Ram devotee.

In Prayagraj, according to sources, a massive turnout of devotees was seen since morning at the ‘Bade Hanuman’ temple near Sangam.

The rush of devotees included those who are attending the Magh Mela and also those from the city.

New Delhi, Jan 22 (IANS) Amid the sounds of dhols and firecrackers, distribution of sweets, rallies and chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’, Hindus in India and abroad came together to celebrate the 'Prana Pratishtha’ ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya on Monday.

The US, where Indian-Americans make up approximately 1.35 per cent of the population, kicked off the celebrations almost a week before the temple's consecration with massive car rallies in Houston and California.

Carrying saffron banners with images of Ram Lalla and the temple, more than 1,100 Hindus took part in a Bay Area car rally, and a huge crowd gathered at the iconic Times Square in New York, singing hymns in praise of Lord Ram.

Laddos were also distributed as 'prasad' by the members of the 'Overseas Friends of Ram Mandir' at Times Square.

In addition, the US Chapter of the VHP erected over 40 billboards in 10 states, including Texas, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, and Georgia.

Over 100 Tesla-owning Hindus gathered at Sri Bhaktha Anjaneya Temple in Maryland and arranged their cars in such a way that it formed the word "Ram'' when seen from a bird's eye view.

“This is a huge accomplishment after 500 years of struggle. Congratulations to my Hindu friends and my constituency and around the world. May you all be blessed,” Congressman Rich McCormick said in a statement, greeting the Hindu community.

The event was broadcast live at approximately 300 locations across the US, including at Times Square which was lit up with vibrant colours and Lord Ram's images.

In Mauritius, where the population consists of around 48 per cent Hindus the community came together to light 'diyas' at the temples and recited the ‘Ramayan Paath.’ In addition, the government also announced a two-hour off to Hindu officials on Monday.

Car rallies were also organised in London as well as Sydney, amidst chants and bhajans in praise of the deity.

In London, the rally commenced from The City Pavillion on Collier Road and travelled through East London before returning to the starting point.

January 22 was declared as 'Ayodhya Ram Mandir Day' in the towns of Oakville and Brampton in Canada's Ontario province.

Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown and his Oakville counterpart Rob Burton said the consecration "holds immense cultural, religious, and historical significance for Hindus worldwide, signifying the culmination of a centuries-old dream."

In the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago, Hindus organised cultural events and sang hymns in praise of their deity on Sunday.

In France 'Ram Rath Yatra' will start from Place De La Chapelle at 12 pm and culminate at the Eiffel Tower's, Place De Trocadero, by 3 pm.

A ceremony at the Ganesha temple in La Chapelle will include an elaborate puja, aarti, prasad distribution, and a cultural show.

In neighbouring Nepal, Janakpur, which is considered to be the birthplace of Lord Ram's wife Sita, was lit up and 1,25,000 lamps will illuminate the Janaki temple today, along with 'aartis' in praise of Lord Ram and Sita.

Ram Lalla's idol was installed in the sanctum sanctorum of the grand new temple in Ayodhya on January 18, and the rituals which began on January 16, will culminate today with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other dignitaries attending the event.