Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Lord Ram Lalla at Ayodhya on Monday. Despite the freezing weather, devotees were seen on Tuesday enjoying a bath in the Saryu River near the Ram Mandir.
Ayodhya Ram Mandir: On Tuesday, the public was able to visit the Ram temple, following the formal Pran Pratistha of Ram Lalla, which was attended by the most prominent people in India. Devotees flocked to Ayodhya in big numbers on Tuesday.
A massive crowd of devotees, including locals and visitors from other states, gathered late on Monday around the main doorway along the Ram Path leading to the temple complex, hoping to gain entry to the grounds.
Since the magnificent temple was opened to the public today, there has been a significant influx of devotees lining the main gate to receive a “Darshan” of Ram Lalla, despite strict security measures in place. There were reports of people evading security at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple.
Devotees began flocking to the temple at 3 a.m. to offer prayers.
The massive assembly that had gathered before the ceremonial doorway of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on Monday, dressed for the consecration ritual, was informed by the police stationed there that the temple would be available to the public starting on Tuesday.
A devotee informed the news agency ANI that he traveled from Odisha to Ayodhya to receive the blessings of Lord Ram.
“I rode my bike from Puri, in Odisha, to Ayodhya to receive the darshan of Lord Ram Lalla. It was a 1224-kilometer trip. My desire to have ‘darshan’ of Ram Lalla was really strong. Speaking to ANI, he added, “When asked where I was going, I replied that I was going to have darshan of Lord Ram at the temple, which was not built for over 500 years.”
In the bitter cold, devotees were also spotted swimming in the Saryu River near the shrine.
“Now, I’m going to the Mandir.” For Ram Lalla, I’ve brought rice. At the Saryu, I had a swim. At the ghat, a devotee mentioned that the water was really chilly.
Lathi charges were reportedly used by Uttar Pradesh police to calm things down. Due to congestion, the Barabanki Police have advised devotees who wish to visit Ayodhya not to do so. The district of Barabanki is situated between Ayodhya and Lucknow. The media has also received another warning from the UP administration not to stop devotees on the roadways in order to obtain media bytes.
Among the worshipers queuing up for darshan at the temple was an astrologer who had foretold that the massive Ram temple would be constructed after October 2019.
At the Ayodhya temple on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated an idol of the new Ram Lalla. He also issued a forceful call to action, asking that the foundation of a “strong, capable, and divine” India for the next millennium be built in addition to completing the construction of the grand mandir.
The Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir is 250 feet wide and 380 feet long, measuring east to west. It is constructed in the classic Nagara style. It is supported by 44 doors and 392 pillars in all, rising 161 feet above the ground. The temple’s walls and pillars are adorned with finely carved representations of Hindu gods and goddesses. The infant form of Bhagwan Shri Ram, the deity of Shri Ramlalla, is enthroned in the sanctum sanctorum on the ground floor.
