Ayodhya: The doors of the Ram temple in Ayodhya opened to the general public on Tuesday, a day after the consecration of the new Ram Lalla idol.
A large number of devotees, both locals and visitors from other states, gathered outside the main gates for hours since late on Monday night, waiting to enter the premises.
Carrying flags bearing visages of Lord Ram and chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’, the devotees waited for hours in the biting cold before the doors of the grand temple opened.
“Felt so delighted, my life’s aim has been fulfilled. Our ancestors struggled for this and it has been brought to fruition. The arrangement should continue like this and the name of Lord Ram should reign for ages,” said Manish Verma, a devotee from Punjab.
An idol of the new Ram Lalla was consecrated at the Ayodhya temple on Monday, January 22, a landmark event led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi accompanied by accompanied by Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, chief minister Yogi Adiyanath, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwant and chairman of the Ram Janmabhoomi Trust Mahant Nritya Gopal Das.
“Today, our Ram has arrived. After a long wait for ages, our Ram has arrived. Our Ram Lalla will no longer live in a tent. Our Ram Lalla will stay in a magnificent temple,” Modi said in his address to the invitees, which included seers, leading figures from different fields and those part of the decades-long Ram Janmabhoomi movement for building the temple.
A large number of the invitees, including seers, later had a ‘darshan’ of the deity soon after the consecration ceremony ended.
Devotees at Ram Mandir turn impatient
Devotees broke through security lines at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya amid huge rush for ‘Darshan’ of Shri Ram Lalla on Tuesday. The temple was open to the public today a day after the grand ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of Ram Lalla idol.
Crowds of impatient people broke through police lines as Ram Bhakts started thonging in large numbers to the temple. Security was steeped up at the temple, which witnessed a heavy rush of devotees at its main gate from 3 am.
Appealing to devotees to stay patient, Additional Director General of Police (ADG) of Lucknow Zone, Piyush Mordia said that darshan is going on as usual but since a large number of devotees have gathered the process is taking time.
“Darshan is going on as usual. However, since devotees have gathered in large numbers it is taking time. We want people not to lose patience. They need to wait patiently. Those who are standing ahead will get the chance to have darshan first,” the ADG said speaking to reporters on Tuesday.
The ADG said, “The way to the exit is separate. People are coming out from a separate route. Our entry and exit gates are defined.”
Asking people not to click photos on their mobile phones during ‘darshan’, Mordia said, “Please do not to use mobile phones inside temple premises. This causes delays in darshan. There are uncountable photos of Lord Ram on the internet. We want to ensure darshan for everyone.”
On traffic arrangements in Ayodhya, he said, “Heavy vehicles have been diverted for a few days so that people do not face difficulties at the city crossings.”
Over 2.5 lakh devotees offer prayers
Around 2.5 lakh to 3 lakh devotees have offered prayers to Ram Lalla in Ayodhya’s Ram Temple on Tuesday and a similar number of devotees are awaiting the darshan, state government officials said.
According to officials, more than 8,000 security personnel are present to control the situation. Since early morning, devotees have arrived at the temple to offer prayers.
Nitish Kumar, a resident of Bihar’s Madhepura district, cycled more than 600 kilometres to reach Ayodhya.
“There is a massive rush but I am hopeful I will get a chance to have ‘darshan’ today. I will start my journey back once my wish is fulfilled. Though I couldn’t go to the temple on Monday, what a day it was to be in Ayodhya,” he said.
Anurag Sharma from Rajasthan’s Sikar was seen walking around with a model of the temple on the day of the consecration ceremony.
“I brought this model with me from my hometown. I arrived on the inaugural flight to Ayodhya and I have been here since then. I will go back only after having a ‘darshan’ of Ram Lalla,” he said.
Groups of people could also be seen marching towards the temple, passing through the decked up Ram Path.
“Ram Lalla gave us the strength to walk all the way from Chhattisgarh and now He only will get us through this crowd so we can take His blessings,” said Sunil Madho, part of an eight-member group that undertook a ‘padyatra’ to Ayodhya.
Maharashtra native Gopal Krishna, who arrived in Ayodhya a few days ago, also jostled in the thick crowd as it moved towards the security check.
“We came here a few days ago as Lord Ram called us. People were telling us to not travel as police would impose restrictions on travel and rooms would not be available in hotels. We are staying at an ashram and this is the day we waited for,” he said.
He was accompanied by a few friends with whom he travelled in a four-wheeler to Ayodhya from Akola district.
The gates of the temple, decorated with flowers and lights, turned into selfie spots for the devotees as they gathered to join the queues.
The devotees chanted Jai Shri Ram’ as they walked in and out of the temple complex. Inside the main temple, ‘Jai Shri Ram’ chants reverberated in its grand halls.
The temple complex, built in the traditional Nagara style, is 380 feet long from the east to the west, 250 feet wide and will eventually rise to 161 feet at the ‘shikhar’. It is supported by 392 pillars and has 44 doors.
Lakhs of people watched the ‘pran pratishtha (consecration)’ ceremony on television in their homes and neighbourhood temples, savouring the historic moment on Monday.
A bevy of artistes performed folk dances, a ‘palki yatra’ was conducted by a religious troupe from Bhopal and scores of devotees from Ayodhya and other cities chanted ‘Jai Shri Ram’ in the streets of the temple town as the ceremony unfolded.
(With agency inputs)
