Ayodhya: The second Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Lord Ram at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, is scheduled to take place on Thursday (June 5). This important event will involve the installation of the idol of Raja Ram along with other deities inside Shri Ram Janmabhoomi complex. It follows the first Pran Pratishtha ceremony, which was held in January in 2024.
The three-day celebration started on June 3 and will conclude with the grand ceremony on June 5. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will be the chief guest for the final day. The event is being organised by the Anjaneya Sewa Trust, with rituals to begin at 11 am on Thursday. The chief minister will preside over the Pran Pratishtha of the Ram Darbar, which will take place on the first floor of the Ram Mandir.
Shashikant Maharaj, president of Anjaneya Sewa Trust, said that the rituals will begin with traditional Vedic chanting and a havan (fire ceremony). One of the key moments will be the ceremonial ‘uncovering of the eyes’ of the idols of Lord Ram and Mata Sita, which will be performed by the chief minister. This ritual symbolizes the divine awakening and presence of the deities in the temple.
Tight security arrangements
Security arrangements have been made on a large scale in Ayodhya for the three-day event. However, devotees have not been stopped from their routine darshan (viewing) of Ram Lalla, the child form of Lord Ram. Authorities have started verifying residents and tenants in unauthorised settlements to ensure smooth management during the event. Security personnel from CRPF, SSF, and PAC are present to maintain law and order.
To mark this auspicious occasion, 62,000 boxes of prasad (holy food offering) are being sent from Lucknow. Kshitij Gupta, Marketing Head of Chhappan Bhog, said that a special type of Barfi made with chickpeas and moong dal has been prepared for distribution to devotees.
In the Ram Darbar, the idol of Lord Ram will be placed on a two-foot-high white marble throne. Alongside him, idols of Mata Sita, Lord Hanuman, and Lakshman will be seated. All these idols and the throne have been beautifully sculpted from white marble sourced from Jaipur, Rajasthan. The Ram Darbar idol itself is about 4.5 feet tall.
Idols to be dressed in richly designed attire
The idols will be dressed in richly designed attire. They will wear intricately crafted crowns, bejewelled belts and embroidered robes with zari work and precious stones. The famous costume designer Manish Tiwari has been tasked with creating these stunning outfits for the deities.
To keep the temple’s sanctity intact, only a limited number of devotees will be allowed on the temple’s first floor where the Ram Darbar is installed. The second floor of the temple will showcase a special display of the Ramayana in multiple languages, including its oldest known version, allowing visitors to connect deeply with the epic’s story.
Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir itself is built in the traditional Nagara architectural style. Its walls feature detailed sculptures of Hindu gods and goddesses, reflecting rich craftsmanship.
First Pran Pratishtha ceremony held on January 22, 2024
The first Pran Pratishtha ceremony had been held on January 22, 2024, during the temple’s inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At that time, the ‘baal roop’ or child form of Lord Ram was consecrated.
Now, the second ceremony will honour Raja Ram, the kingly form of Lord Ram, as described by Mahamandaleshwar Vishnu Das in an interview with ANI.
This second Pran Pratishtha ceremony is expected to be a deeply spiritual and grand occasion for devotees.
