Devotee Influx in Ayodhya for Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha Anniversary Celebration

Ayodhya, Jan 11 (NationPress) The city of Ayodhya is seeing a substantial surge in devotees as preparations are underway to celebrate the first anniversary of the Pran Pratishtha event for the Ram Temple.
The original consecration ceremony took place last year on January 22 during Shukla Paksha, officiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This year, the anniversary aligns with January 11, also falling within Shukla Paksha according to the Hindu calendar.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is scheduled to visit Ayodhya on Saturday to oversee the arrangements at the temple. The city will host a three-day series of cultural and spiritual programs to commemorate the event.
Devotees expressed their happiness to IANS regarding the construction of the Ram Temple and the magnificent arrangements for the celebrations.
Many have lauded the efforts of the Yogi Adityanath-led state government and the Central government under Prime Minister Modi for realizing the long-awaited vision of the temple.
A group of 22 pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh shared their enthusiasm, stating, "We are delighted to be here. We missed the Pran Pratishtha ceremony last year, but this time we ensured our entire family could visit."
A devotee from Delhi remarked, "PM Modi is undertaking remarkable initiatives. The development in Ayodhya is commendable. It's an extraordinary experience to be here."
Arun Kumar from Chandigarh, affiliated with the Adiyogi group that performs Ramleela, conveyed his sentiments, saying, "I have participated in Ramleela for 12 years, but visiting the Ram Temple is an unmatched experience. We also visited Hanuman Garhi and encourage everyone to visit the temple at least once. The arrangements for darshan are superb."
To honor the occasion, numerous spiritual and cultural events are being organized. The day commenced with an Agnihotra ceremony, accompanied by mantras from the Shukla Yajurveda, which ran from 8 am to 11 am and will continue from 2 pm to 5 pm.
The day's activities also include the chanting of six lakh Shri Ram Mantras, recitation of the Ram Raksha Stotra, and Hanuman Chalisa.
On the temple's ground floor, Rag Seva took place, with a special highlight being nine-year-old Vedika Jaiswal from Maharashtra, who was dressed as Lord Ram.
Her mother, Diksha Jaiswal, mentioned, "Last year, attendees noted how much my daughter resembled Lord Ram. She possesses a deep spirituality, and I decided to dress her as Lord Ram for this significant occasion."
Additional activities included a musical recitation of the Ramcharitmanas on the first floor of the passenger convenience center, Ram Katha at Angad Tila, and a discourse on the Ramcharitmanas along with cultural performances.
The Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust reported that over 200,000 devotees visited the temple on January 1, the first day of the year, to offer their prayers. The ongoing festivities continue to attract large crowds, showcasing the devotion and enthusiasm of the participants.