Ram Temple Consecration in Ayodhya, Celebrations Around the World

The world is abuzz with anticipation as tomorrow, January 22, 2024, marks the momentous occasion of the Pran Pratishtha (consecration) of Lord Ram’s idol in the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. A surge of excitement and devotion is palpable among Hindu communities globally, with preparations for the grand event underway on an international scale.

Celebrations are set to take place across various countries, uniting Hindus in joyous festivities. In the United States, the live broadcast of the event will captivate audiences at around 300 locations, including the iconic Times Square in New York City. Large-scale auto rallies in U.S. cities and week-long temple celebrations are also part of the planned festivities.

Paris’s Eiffel Tower will illuminate in celebration of Pran Pratishtha, becoming a symbol of global unity on this auspicious day. France is gearing up for a Grand Rath Yatra, an extraordinary procession of cultural and religious significance. The United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Mauritius will witness extensive broadcasts of the consecration ceremony.

In a significant gesture, Mauritius, where approximately 48 percent of the population is Hindu, has granted a two-hour off to Hindu officials on January 22, allowing them to fully participate in the festivities surrounding the Ram Temple inauguration.

The global celebration of this historic event is gaining remarkable momentum, emphasizing the widespread enthusiasm and unity among Hindus worldwide as they come together to witness and commemorate the consecration of Lord Ram’s idol in Ayodhya.

MAURITIUS WILL LIGHT ‘DIYAS’ ON RAM MANDIR INAUGURATION

In Mauritius, High Commissioner Haymandoyal Dillum has exciting plans for the Mauritian community.

Mauritians are gearing up to illuminate all the temples of the island nation with ‘diyas’ (earthen lamps). Verses from the Ramayan will echo through temple corridors with ‘Ramayan Path’.

“In all the temples, one ‘diya’ will be lit, and ‘Ramayan Path’ will be recited during that day,” High Commissioner Dillum told news agency ANI.

Dillum shared that this consecration ceremony is not only significant for India but holds great importance for the people of Mauritius.

The Mauritian government has also granted a two-hour special break for Hindu government officers on January 22.

Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth’s decision allows the Hindu community to actively participate in local events marking the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Lord Ram’s idol in Ayodhya.

Ghoorbin Bhojraj, President of Mauritius Sanatan Dharma Temples Federation, said a cultural programme would precede the Ayodhya Ram Mandir’s inauguration and Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth would be the chief guest.

“Across Mauritius, all our Hindu brothers and sisters are in a celebratory mood these days. From Makar Sankranti on January 15, all our temples will hold the chanting of verses from Ramayana. On January 22, when Lord Ram will be enthroned at the grand temple in Ayodhya, we will hold celebrations similar to Diwali. The Festival of Lights will be celebrated twice in Diwali this year,” Ghoorbin told ANI.

BILLBOARDS AND CELEBRATIONS IN US

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), US chapter, has erected over 40 billboards in 10 states, including Texas, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, and Georgia.

This visual celebration extends to Arizona and the State of Missouri, joining the festivities that started on January 15.

Lord Ram devotees in the United States have also organised a spectacular car rally in New Jersey, parading at least 350 cars adorned with flags bearing images of Lord Ram.

Washington DC’s Tesla Car musical show also grabbed the attention. Over 100 Tesla-owning Ram Bhaktas gathered at Shri Bhaktha Anjaneya Temple in Maryland, transforming the parking lot into a divine stage.

Their Teslas, synchronised with a popular Ram bhajan, produced a mesmerising symphony of light and music.

The scene, captured in stunning drone footage, showcased the Teslas arranged to form the word “RAM.”

Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHP America), the driving force behind Ram temple celebrations in the US, organised not just the dazzling Tesla show but also car rallies in 21 cities across the nation.

From Atlanta to Seattle, Houston to Boston, devotees honked their horns, waved saffron flags, and sang bhajans of Lord Ram.

FRANCE PREPARES FOR ‘GRAND RATH YATRA’

France, Paris, is set to host the Ram Rath Yatra and puja, a remarkable event occurring 24 hours ahead of the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ in India. The ‘Ram Rath Yatra’ is scheduled to commence from Place De La Chapelle at 12 pm, culminating at the iconic Eiffel Tower’s location, Place De Trocadero, by 3 pm.

The yatra will kick off at 10.30 am with prayers and the ‘Vishwa Kalyan Yagna’ at a Ganesha temple in La Chapelle. The ceremony will include an elaborate puja, aarti, prasad distribution, and a cultural show.

Subsequently, the procession will traverse significant landmarks such as the renowned Arc de Triomphe, the Musée de Louver, Place De La Republique, and ultimately arrive at Place De Trocadero.

CANADA TOWNS DECLARE ‘RAM MANDIR DAY’

The towns of Oakville and Brampton in Canada’s Ontario declared January 22, 2024 as ‘Ayodhya Ram Mandir Day’.

The mayors of Brampton, Patrick Brown and Oakville, Rob Burton, said the inauguration of the temple in Ayodhya “holds immense cultural, religious, and historical significance for Hindus worldwide, signifying the culmination of a centuries-old dream”.

Both mayors called upon the residents of their respective towns to celebrate the “historic event” of the temple’s opening in Ayodhya.

LIVE BROADCAST OF ‘PRAN PRATISHTHA’ CEREMONY

As per media reports and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), more than 50 nations are slated to witness various events, with the consecration ceremony set to be streamed live.

In the United States, streaming will occur at 300 locations, while in the UK, Australia, Canada, and Mauritius, the live broadcast will take place at 25, 30, 30, and 100 locations, respectively.

The Hindu American community’s celebrations across the US mirror the joy and anticipation felt by Hindus globally as they prepare to witness the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22.

The celebration of the Ram Mandir consecration, culminating in a global series of events, highlights the universal significance of Lord Ram’s teachings and Hindus’ shared cultural legacy.

Hindus across the world wait in joy. The ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony promises to be a historic event that crosses borders and brings communities together in celebration of faith and common values.