Slogans like “Shubh Ghadi Aayi”, “Taiyaar Hai Ayodhya Dham, Virajenge Shri Ram” and “Ram Phir Lautenge” were among the slogans put up on posters and hoardings put up in the temple town ahead of the consecration ceremony on January 22.

In preparation for the big day, the city has been decorated with saffron flags and huge cutouts of Lord Ram have been placed in the middle of the Ram Path, while constant slogans of ‘Siya Ram’ and ‘Jai Siya Ram’ can be heard. Everywhere, it is being played on loudspeakers installed in nearby temples.

Slogans on huge hoardings put up at every corner of the city read, “Shubh Ghadi Aayi” (The auspicious occasion has arrived), “Taiyar hai Ayodhya Dham, Virajenge Shri Ram” (Ayodhya Dham is ready to welcome Lord Ram), “Ram phir lautenge” (Lord Ram will return again), Ram Rajya in Ayodhya (Ram Rajya in Ayodhya) and “Shri Ayodhya Dham ka kan kan mati chandan hai, aapka Ayodhya Dham mein shat shat vandan”.

Various verses from Ramayana have also been printed on posters at prominent places like Ram Marg, Saryu river bank and Lata Mangeshkar Chowk.

“There are all kinds of posters and hoardings. Be it by a trust, a political organization or an individual, posters and hoardings have been put up at designated places. No damage will be done to the walls to ensure that the character of the city is not harmed, a district administration official told PTI.

The first phase of the Ram temple in Ayodhya is nearing completion and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the consecration of the idol of Ram Lalla on January 22.

The Supreme Court delivered a historic verdict in 2019, settling the more than a century-old temple-mosque dispute.

The court supported the construction of Ram temple at the disputed site and ruled that an alternative plot of five acres should be found for the construction of the mosque. Streetlights on flyovers decorated with artworks depicting Lord Rama, his bow and arrows, and decorative lampposts with designs based on the traditional ‘Ramanandi Tilak’ are also adding to the general mood of devotion in the city. Sunil Kumar from Sangli in Maharashtra has come to Ayodhya with 100 kg of rangoli colors and is busy making intricate designs on the streets of the holy city.

“I have different colors as well as different tools. Wherever I am going, I am designing on all the roads. Finally that day has come and no Diwali is complete without Rangoli.

Big LED screens have been installed at various places and Ramayan is being telecasted every evening and local people are gathering to watch it together. Ramlilas, Bhagwat stories, bhajan evenings and cultural programs are going on at various places across the city.

The banks of river Saryu are also decorated where thousands of people come for Aarti every evening. Some trees on Dharma Path near Lata Mangeshkar Chowk have been decorated with special pieces made of inverted baskets and lights, adding to the aesthetic appeal of the revamped holy city.

“Everyone has to be here to see this atmosphere. It feels like real Ram Rajya where the whole city is decorated, everyone is greeting everyone, people are serving, free food is available. Apart from the idea of ​​visiting the iconic temple, the ambiance is historical,” said Naresh Gupta, who has come to Ayodhya on foot from Chhattisgarh and is now busy exploring the city.

Apart from Ramayana murals on both sides of the roads, bus shelters along the Ram Path have been decorated with Ramayana themed artworks, attracting the attention of passersby.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)