The new Ram temple in Ayodhya now has extended prayer hours, enabling ‘Darshan’ beginning at 6 a.m. Key routes leading to the temple town remain closed to control vehicular traffic. Strict security precautions have been taken, with Rapid Action Force and Central Reserve Police Force members stationed outside the shrine.
The extended prayer time at the Ayodhya’s new Ram temple went into effect on Thursday. Darshan is now permitted beginning at 6 a.m., as critical routes leading to the temple town remain closed to manage vehicular movement. Following the January 22 consecration ceremony in Ayodhya, strict security measures were implemented. The Rapid Action Force and Central Reserve Police Force have been positioned outside the temple, and highways from Basti, Gonda, Ambedkarnagar, Barabanki, Sultanpur, and Amethi are closed 15 kilometers before their borders with Ayodhya.
The temple management has agreed to allow people to pray from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., with the 15 minutes set aside for ‘aarti’ and ‘bhog’ at 12 p.m. Previously, the schedule ran from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a two-hour break in between.
On the occasion of ‘Paush Purnima’, devotees have begun to arrive in the temple town, and many have taken a holy bath in the Saryu River. On Thursday, the third day after Shri Ram Lalla’s ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ritual, Ayodhya saw a large number of worshipers gather. Despite the bitter cold and dense fog, people patiently formed long lines around Rampath and the temple grounds, beginning in the early hours.
Ayodhya Commissioner Gaurav Dayal told PTI, “We are attempting to alleviate the situation. We are letting emergency cars and vehicles transporting perishable products to enter Faizabad, but the access into Ayodhya town remains closed. Vehicles from neighboring districts are not allowed to enter Ayodhya.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met with officials in Lucknow to discuss crowd control tactics. VIPs wishing to visit the temple are advised to notify officials ahead of time.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked his cabinet colleagues to refrain from visiting the Ram temple in Ayodhya until at least March.
Every day, about three lakh devotees attend the Ram Mandir temple for the darshan of Ram Lalla.
