For Ayodhya residents, Ram Lalla’s ‘Pran Pratistha’ ceremony is ‘encounter with divinity’

A day before the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony at the Ram temple, Amit Pathak, a resident of Tulsinagar in Ayodhya, said, “I did not want to take a picture of Lord Ram but wanted to create his image in my heart.”

Residents of Ayodhya are waiting for the “interview with divinity” on January 22. While speaking to PTI, the voice of Pathak, whose house is about a kilometer away from the newly-built Ram temple, was choked with emotion.

Pathak works in Lucknow and had made up his mind that he would be in Ayodhya on January 22. “I was mentally prepared to walk to Ayodhya if I did not get a bus or any other vehicle. However, by the grace of Lord Shri Ram, I got a bus and reached Ayodhya on Friday itself,” he said, adding that he was falling short of words to express himself. “When Babri Masjid was demolished, I was two years old. My mother used to take me to Ram temple. Now, after the January 22 celebrations, I will take my mother to the newly constructed Ram temple,” Pathak said.

Expressing happiness over the upcoming consecration ceremony, Ayodhya-based homeopathy physician Dr Indranil Banerjee told PTI, “This is a moment for the people of Ayodhya which can never be forgotten. The people here were waiting for this day for the last few generations. Ayodhya has the potential to become the spiritual capital of the country.

After being sidelined for years, I think Ayodhya’s time has come. Ignored by successive governments, the people of Ayodhya have seen tough days. Now, this is our time under the sun.”

Prajjwal Singh, another resident, said, “We are standing on the threshold of history. We are eager to be an integral part of Ramlala’s ‘Pran Pratistha’ celebrations. This is certainly a historic moment for us and our generation, as we have seen our ancestors facing difficulties. Today we are getting the fruits of their tears, sweat, hard work and sacrifice.”

He said his family members, relatives, friends and neighbors are also immersed in the celebrations, which are likely to last till the end of the month. Samajwadi Party councilor Mahendra Shukla said that all the people of Ayodhya are feeling happy. He said, everyone is coming forward to help the visitors so that they do not face any problem here and they go away with pleasant memories.

Atul Kumar, a resident of Naya Ghat area of ​​Ayodhya, said that January 22 is going to be a historic day not only for Ayodhya or Uttar Pradesh but for the country, the world and the entire humanity. Describing the ceremony as “the first phase of Ram Rajya”, Saurabh Mishra said, “After the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony, the whole world is going to embrace Lord Ram. It will be drenched in devotion to Lord Shri Ram.”

Expressing similar sentiments, Anvesh Mishra, who runs a guest house, said, “This is going to be the biggest event ever in the history of Ayodhya. Certainly, this will be a moment of ‘encounter with divinity’ for me, my family members and the entire Ayodhya people. It is my good fortune to be able to see history happening before my eyes and I am a resident of Ayodhya, where this special event is taking place. We will cherish this moment for the rest of our lives.”

The much-awaited Ram Temple consecration will be held in a grand ceremony on Monday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending the rituals, a day after the temple will be thrown open to the public.

The ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony will begin at 12.20 pm and is expected to end by 1 pm. The Prime Minister will then address a gathering of over 7,000 people, including saints and prominent personalities, at the venue.

Lakhs of people are expected to watch the event live on TV and online platforms as BJP-ruled states and Odisha have declared a holiday, while the central government has announced a half-day holiday. As authorities make final preparations at a bedecked Ayodhya, considered the birthplace of Lord Ram, temples in the country and abroad have announced special celebrations to mark the occasion.

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