Shri Ramlala Pran Pratishtha Anniversary: Three-Day Celebrations Kick Off, VVIP Darshan Restricted
Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) (The Uttam Hindu): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will inaugurate a three-day festival on Saturday to mark the first anniversary of Shri Ram Lala's Pran Pratishtha. The initial ceremony was performed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22, 2024. This year, the event aims to involve the general public who were unable to participate in last year’s historic occasion.
The festival, scheduled from January 11 to 13 will take place within the Ram Janmabhoomi complex. During this time, VVIP darshans will be restricted and VVIP passes will not be issued. However, the temple trust has extended the darshan hours for devotees. Around 110 invited VIPs will also join the celebrations.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in a post on social media platform X, wrote, "We are the servants of Raghuveer…" He is scheduled to address devotees at Kuber Tila on Saturday followed by various devotional and musical programs.
Cultural Highlights
The festival will feature performances by renowned artists such as folk singer Malini Awasthi, playback singers Anuradha Paudwal and Kavita Paudwal and poet Kumar Vishwas. Devotional music groups from across India will perform kirtans at various locations in Ayodhya during the event.
The temple trust has organized Ramlila and several religious rituals as part of the celebrations. Jagadguru Ramanujacharya and Swami Gyananand will narrate Ram Katha for the three days. Additionally, Sapna Goyal of Lucknow along with 250 women will recite Sunderkand.
Saints and Devotees Gather
Over 100 local saints and around 70 saints from states including Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan have been invited to participate. The Ram Mandir Trust is finalizing the guest list to ensure widespread representation.
Performances by Kumar Vishwas and Malini Awasthi are scheduled at Angad Tila on Saturday while Anuradha Paudwal and Kavita Paudwal will perform on Sunday.
According to Champat Rai, general secretary of the temple trust, the event is a way to include those who missed last year’s celebrations and to showcase the unity and devotion surrounding the Ram Janmabhoomi.
Meanwhile, Nripendra Mishra, chairman of the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir Nirman Samiti, stated that construction of the Ram temple complex is progressing rapidly and is expected to be completed by mid-2025.
