Auspicious Journey: Ram Lalla Idol Arrives Amidst Rituals in Ayodhya

New Delhi: In an intense moment echoing with devotion, the idol of infant Lord Ram, known as Ram Lalla, made a triumphant entry into Ayodhya on the second day of week-long rituals conducted for the grand consecration ceremony on January 22. The 51-inch idol, carved by renowned Karnataka sculptor Arun Yogiraj at the International Institute of Yoga and Meditation, Vivek Srishti Trust, was taken to the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram temple on an open truck.

Slogans of “Jai Shri Ram” echoed in the air as devotees watched the idol’s journey throughout the 10 kilometer route. The procession stopped at the historic Hanuman Garhi temple and paid homage to Lord Hanuman, the protector of Ayodhya.

A touching ritual was held on the banks of river Saryu, where seven women performed ‘Kalash Puja’, collecting water in a copper pitcher for the Ram temple. This water, a symbol of purity, will be used to bathe the deity during the upcoming ceremony.

Notably, Anil Mishra, a member of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and host of the week-long rituals, actively participated in the ‘Kalash Pujan’. The Trust has carefully planned the consecration ceremony, incorporating Vedic rituals and traditional practices.

Additionally, a small silver idol of Ram Lalla was given a ceremonial tour around the temple complex for a ‘campus tour’. This replacement idol, housed in a flower palanquin, is designed for Vedic rituals and will be installed in the sanctum sanctorum along with the new idol.

The Trust stressed that the small idol, weighing 150 kg, serves as a practical alternative to the complex Vedic rituals, ensuring the sanctity and uninterrupted conduct of the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony. The coming days promise continued spiritual excitement as Ayodhya prepares for the historic event, in which both the new and replacement idols will find their sacred place within the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram temple.