The festivities began with the recitation of the Yajurveda at the Ram Temple complex. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath performed the ‘abhishek’ of the Ram Lalla idol, followed by a grand aarti around 12:20 pm. The ceremony included the offering of 56 dishes to the deity, and the temple court was beautifully decorated with flowers to mark the occasion.
To make the event more inclusive, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has invited common people who missed the historic consecration ceremony last year. Over 110 VIPs, many of whom were also unable to attend in January 2024, have also received invitations. To accommodate everyone, a German hangar tent has been set up at Angad Teela, with capacity for up to 5,000 people.
The three-day event will feature a variety of cultural performances, including classical music and dance, daily Ram Katha discourses, and religious rituals. Well-known personalities like Malini Awasthi, Anuradha Paudwal, and Kumar Vishwas will perform throughout the celebration. Additionally, devotees will be treated to Ram Katha narrated by Jagadguru Ramanujacharya and Swami Gyananand, and a special Sundarkand recitation by Sapna Goyal and 250 women.
Seers from across India have been invited to take part in the celebrations, with around 70 saints who missed the original consecration ceremony being specially honored. Musical performances, kirtans, and devotional events will be held across various locations in Ayodhya during the three days.
Champat Rai, General Secretary of the Ram Temple Trust, confirmed that no special passes will be required for darshan during the event, ensuring that all devotees can freely partake in the festivities.
The anniversary celebrations follow the consecration of the Ram Lalla idol on January 22, 2024, a historic event that marked the culmination of a decades-long campaign to reclaim the disputed site in Ayodhya. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had led the ceremony and called it the beginning of a new era for India.
