1. Consecration today; PM, priests to lead ceremonies

Over 13,000 security personnel deployed as Ayodhya prepares for the Ram Temple event 8,000 guests have been invited to attend the ceremony set to begin 20 minutes after noon Almost all Opposition political leaders invited to the ceremony have declined to attend the event

The temple town of Ayodhya was decked with flowers, filled with bhajans, and covered with a multi-layered security blanket on the eve of the pran pratishtha, or consecration ceremony, to be held at the Ram Temple on Monday.

In the culmination of a decades-long religious and political movement to restore the worship of Lord Ram in a new temple at what is considered his birthplace, the rituals to consecrate the idol are expected to begin at 20 minutes past noon in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and almost 8,000 invited guests, and will be watched by lakhs of devotees via live telecast across the world.

The temple will be opened to the public the day after the function.

More than 13,000 security personnel have been deployed in Ayodhya. Officers from the National Security Guard and Special Protection Group, commandos of the Central Reserve Police Force , the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force, the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad, and the Provincial Armed Constabulary are camping in the district, along with Intelligence Bureau personnel.

Security blanket

Security checks for vehicles and individuals have been implemented across the temple town. No uninvited individual allowed around the vicinity of the temple, while aerial and artificial intelligence surveillance has been deployed to ensure the safety of the guests and the success of the mega event.

Arrangements have been made to deal with any health emergency, especially in view of the biting cold.

The new 51-inch Ram Lalla idol, which was placed in the sanctum sanctorum last Thursday, was bathed on Sunday with 114 pitchers filled with aushadhiyukt (medicated) and sacred water brought from various pilgrimage sites. The preparatory rituals in the run-up to the ceremony were conducted by 121 priests, with the eminent priest Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid coordinating and overseeing the proceedings of the Anushthan (rituals). Lakshmikant Dixit of Kashi is the main priest.

Starting at 10 a.m. on Monday, Mangal Dhvani (auspicious sound) will play at the temple until the ceremony is ready to begin, with artists playing 25 traditional and rare musical instruments from different States.

“In Indian culture, Mangal Dhvani is composed to bring joy and to mark auspiciousness of an occasion and produced before the deity. The consecration ceremony is a proud moment for every Indian, and to mark this grand occasion, traditional musical instruments from various regions and States of India will be played to produce Mangal Dhvani in front of Shri Ram Lalla,” said Champat Rai, the general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.

Guest list

U.P. Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat will attend the ceremony, along with a guest list of prominent politicians, leading industrialists, top film stars, sportspersons, diplomats, judges, priests, and activists prominent in the Ram Temple movement.

Almost all Opposition political leaders invited to the ceremony have declined to attend.

As part of the preparations, the Trust readied Mahaprasad to be distributed to the guests after the pran pratistha, along with meals prepared with desi ghee to be served on the temple premises.

2. Ahead of consecration, PM finishes T.N. temple visits

Modi prays at Kothandaramaswamy Temple, visits Arichalmunai point; in run-up to Ram Temple event, he had said that he would be visiting key temples associated with Lord Ram across country

A day ahead of the Ram Temple inauguration in Ayodhya on Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ended his spiritual tour of Tamil Nadu after visiting the Sri Kothandaramaswamy Temple and Arichalmunai point in Dhanushkodi, situated at the tip of the Indian mainland on Sunday.

In the run-up to the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Prime Minister had announced that he would be visiting important shrines associated with Lord Rama across the country. Before commencing his tour of Tamil Nadu, he had visited temples in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.

The Prime Minister, who arrived in Chennai on Friday, had inaugurated the opening ceremony of the Khelo India Youth Games, 2023 in the city. After an overnight stay at the Raj Bhavan, he left for Srirangam, where he visited the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple.

He arrived in Rameswaram on Saturday afternoon and offered prayers at the Sri Ramanathaswami Temple. After spending the night at the Ramakrishna Math here, he proceeded to the Arichalmunai point in Dhanushkodi, bound by the Palk Bay in the north and the Gulf of Mannar in the south. He offered flowers and performed puja to a Shivalinga in Arichalmunai.

Walk on the beach

Mr. Modi also took a short walk on the beach while soaking in the view of the sea.

The Prime Minister left Rameswaram by helicopter to the Madurai airport at 11.45 a.m. and on arrival, he boarded a special aircraft to New Delhi, officials said.

A press release said that the Kothandaramaswamy Temple is believed to be the place where Vibhishana, the younger brother of King Ravana, first met Sri Rama and sought refuge. Some legends also state that this was the place where Lord Rama conducted the coronation of Vibhishana as the King of Lanka, before returning to Ayodhya.

The Prime Minister posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Prayed at the iconic Kothandaramaswamy Temple. Felt extremely blessed.”

A group of Congress workers in Rameswaram staged a black flag demonstration with placards reading “Go Back Modi” and “Anti-Fishermen Modi”, among others. They shouted slogans and also released black balloons before being arrested.