The Ram Temple in Ayodhya is all decked up for Deepotsav on 30 October 2024. This will be the first such celebration in the city after the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple, held on 22 January. The day began with the Shobha Yatra, a procession of tableaux showcasing the life of Lord Ram and based on the seven chapters of the Ramayana.

The procession started from Saket Mahavidyalaya and around 18 tableaus lined up. These tableaus will tour the Ayodhya city and showcase all the chapters of Ramayana, and will also give the message of women empowerment. Artists from all over the country were presenting different folk dances in the procession.

One of the artists participating in the festival said they were working to promote traditions and cultural heritage. “My aim is to further the celebration of our traditions. There is a portrayal of Lord Ram’s childhood, along with Mata Kaushalya and King Dasharath, depicting the early years of Lord Ram,” said the artist performing at the Shobha Yatra.

The Yogi Adityanath government plans to illuminate the city with 28 lakh ‘diyas (earthen lamps)’ in an attempt to create a new world record. These will be arranged by 30,000 volunteers. In this year’s Deepotsav, another world record will be attempted. It will be of 1,100 people performing the largest ‘aarti’ together on the ghats of Saryu.

The UP CM will also participate in performing the special aarti and lighting the diyas. The event will take place at multiple locations, including New Ghat and Old Ghat. A 30-member Guinness World Records team is present in the city to oversee the preparations. The team is likely to pronounce results after the diyas are lit. The counting of the diyas will utilize specialized software to ensure accuracy, as precise dimensions for each 16 by 16-foot area are critical for maintaining count integrity.

The five-day Diwali festivities began with Dhanteras on 29 October 2024, and will end with Bhai Dooj. Also known as the “festival of lights”, Diwali is celebrated on the 15th day of the Hindu lunar month of Karthik, between mid-October and mid-November. For Deepotsav, there will be performances by artists from six countries – Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Indonesia – along with a Ram Leela presentation from Uttarakhand.

Deepotsav celebrates Lord Rama’s return to Ayodhya after a 14-year exile, highlighting the city’s cultural and spiritual significance and attracting millions of devotees and tourists. While detailing the plans for the celebrations, Uttar Pradesh Minister Jaiveer Singh said after the establishment of the Ram Temple, this is the first celebration of Deepotsav and to make this occasion memorable, grand and divine, many beautiful decorations have been assembled to enhance the festivities.

Minister Jaiveer Singh said, “Today, I extend my best wishes to every Sanatan follower who believes in traditions and rituals in the country and across the world. Everyone in Ayodhya is overwhelmed and happy today. They are feeling the same enthusiasm and happiness that people must have felt when Lord Ram returned from 14 years of exile. We will also perform Aarti with 1,100 diyas at the Saryu Ghat with 1,100 Vedacharyas.”

-IANS

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

The post Ram Lalla’s First Diwali Celebration: Ayodhya Aims For Two Guinness World Record With 28 Lakh Diyas And Saryu Aarti By 1,100 Vedacharyas appeared first on The Commune.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, campaigning for the party for the upcoming elections in Haryana has once again made derogatory statements surrounding the Pran Prathishta event of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya held in January 2024.

These remarks were met with severe opposition from BJP leaders, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in particular.

What Did Rahul Gandhi Say?

During the campaign, speaking at a public gathering in Hisar, Haryana, he said, “Why did you lose in Ayodhya, when the temple was opened in Ayodhya, Adani was there, Ambani was there, Amitabh Bachchan was there, and the whole of Bollywood was there. But you did not see a single poor farmer, it is the truth. That is why Avdesh has defeated them, Avdesh is the MP from there, Avdesh Kumar, who won in Ayodhya, he won, and that is why the whole of India is watching, Bhaiya, you opened the Ram temple first. You told the President that you are tribal, you cannot come inside, you are not allowed. You invited Amitabh Bachchan, Adani, and Ambani, you did not allow a single labourer to come. Did you see a carpenter, a farmer, a labourer? No one, song and music event (naach gaana) are going on, the press people are saying hai hai hai, song and music event (naach gaana) is going on, dance is going on, the whole of India is dancing.”

Yogi Adityanath Responds Sharply

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi was addressing a public meeting in Bawani Khera, Haryana. Responding to the crass comments made by Rahul Gandhi, he said, “On January 22, the wait of 500 years ended. Ram Lalla was enthroned in Ayodhya. The whole world was overwhelmed, but these unlucky Congressmen who grew up with Rome culture, those who call themselves accidental Hindus unfortunately, couldn’t handle this. He said that when the temple for Ram Lalla was being inaugurated in Ayodhya, song and dance event was happening (naach gaana). Your entire family has been doing only this all their life. That is why to insult Hindus, to curse our Hindu culture and tradition and these people go outside India and curse the country and call themselves accidental Hindus. By putting India’s tradition and its constitutional institutions at stake, they are questioning our own standards and our own capabilities. This is the difference between Ram’s culture and Rome’s culture. Every person brought up in Ram’s culture kept fighting for 500 years with Ram Sankalp. Its result is in front of us today. Lord Ram is enthroned again.”

Rahul Gandhi says Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha was a "Nachne-Gaane wala" event. Maybe because his family has done same Nach-Gaan for life… – Yogi ji didn't even hesitate

Get ready for the meltdown pic.twitter.com/dZzTmMnyeC

— Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) September 30, 2024

Subscribe to our Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram channels and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

The post “Your Family Has Been Doing Naach-Gaana All Their Lives”, UP CM Yogi Adityanath Shoots Back At Cong Leader Rahul Gandhi For His Naach Gaana Comment On Pran Prathishta Event appeared first on The Commune.

The post Ayodhya Ram Lalla Deity Sculptor Arun Yogiraj Denied Visa By US appeared first on The Commune.

The cultural hub of Kerala, Thrissur, recently found itself embroiled in a political maelstrom after the revered temple festival, Thrissur Pooram, was marred by allegations of police excesses and unwanted restrictions. The ensuing chaos triggered sharp reactions from opposition parties, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the United Democratic Front (UDF), who lambasted the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) government for “allegedly” dampening the festivities.

The festival, which commenced on 20 April 2024, traditionally draws crowds of devotees and onlookers to partake in its vibrant celebrations featuring music, processions, fairs, and the renowned fireworks display. However, reports emerged of police interference and stringent restrictions during the early morning rituals on Saturday, casting a shadow over the festivities.

This year, the Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu Devaswams presented a vibrant spectacle at Thekinkad Maidan where the Thrissur Pooram festivities were held. Thirty majestic elephants, adorned with decorative horns, captivated the audience as they descended to Puranagari. Both Devaswams showcased their unique silk umbrellas and watched the friendly competition unfold. As dusk fell, the brahmastras, concealed in quivers, illuminated the sky simultaneously at Thiruvambadi and Paramekkavu, eliciting cheers from the crowd. The towering figure of Ram Lalla of Ayodhya emerged amidst the adorned elephants, symbolizing harmony between the two sections. Vadakkumnathan, Thiruvambadi Kannan, Paramekkav Bhagavathy, Sri Parameswaran, and Parasakthi graced Thekinkad Maidan in the form of ornate umbrellas. Additionally, the Thiruvambadi Devaswom introduced a new element to the festivities by paying homage to India’s Chandrayaan-2 mission and ISRO, offering a unique experience to the audience.

Allegations surfaced of police obstructing devotees’ entry, hampering ritualistic practices such as the display of LED-lit canopies honoring Lord Ram, and engaging in physical altercations with festival attendees. Scenes of confrontation between police officials and temple authorities further escalated tensions, prompting the Thiruvambadi Devaswom to suspend ceremonies in protest against what they perceived as unwarranted police restrictions, a first in the festival’s storied history.

In the aftermath of the debacle, political parties seized upon the controversy, with the BJP accusing the state government of orchestrating a conspiracy to undermine the Pooram. BJP state vice-president B Gopalakrishnan asserted that the incident was part of a deliberate attempt to sabotage the festival, highlighting a pattern of recurring issues surrounding the event in recent years.

Amid mounting criticism, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan pledged a thorough investigation into the complaints lodged by temple management and the public. While acknowledging governmental constraints during the ongoing election period, Vijayan assured that the Director General of Police would conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the incidents and submit a report.

The saga took a new turn with visuals emerging of district police chief Ankit Asokan engaged in heated exchanges with festival participants, adding fuel to the fire of public outrage, as reported by Manorama. Questions were raised regarding the appropriateness of police conduct within the sacred confines of the temple premises, particularly in contravention of a High Court directive barring footwear inside during the Pooram festivities.

Swami Jithathmananda from the Chinmaya Mission in Kerala raised the possibility that the inclusion of an image of Ram Lalla in the festival’s adornments might have incited the disturbances, deeming it a source of embarrassment for the Hindu community. Likewise, Hindu Aikya Vedi leader R.V. Babu voiced apprehension that such depictions could “offend” certain groups.

As the controversy reverberated across Kerala, the spectacle of Thrissur Pooram, renowned for its religious fervor and cultural significance, was overshadowed by discord and disarray. Despite efforts made to salvage the celebrations, including intervention by local leaders and officials, the bitterness of the police action, behaviour of the Communist state government lingers on. 

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

The post Allegations Of Political Excesses & Political Backlash Mars This Year’s Thrissur Pooram Festival Which Featured Ram Lalla Canopies appeared first on The Commune.

Let me take you back in time. To the year 1528. Or thereabouts.

The Timurid invader Babur is sitting on the throne in Delhi having won the Battle of Panipat. His generals are marauding across the Ganga-Yamuna Doab, pillaging, plundering, looting, raping and killing.

Imagine that you are a resident of Ayodhya. News has been reaching you about the inexorable march of the brutish, Timurid invaders. Of the temples desecrated and demolished. Of the annihilation of the population. Of women being raped and enslaved. Your heart would fill with fear for your family. You look at your mother, your sister, your wife and your kids and you feel a hollow, sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach.

Imagine that you were a Kshatriya then. You decide that you are going to fight the invaders and either save your beloved city, one of the most ancient cities of the land, the city of Bhagawan Sri Ram, or die trying.

Imagine that you go to the Ram temple atop the Ramkot and pray that your heart remains steady and that your sword arm does not falter. Your womenfolk bid you adieu by applying tilak on your forehead, and with dry eyes, despite knowing that, in all probability, you will not be coming back.

Imagine heading off to war, and fighting the good fight against a numerically superior army with superior weapons. You finally fall on the battlefield, a heroic, but ultimately pointless death.

Imagine the scene in front of your eyes. Of Mir Baqi triumphantly entering the city. Of his soldiers carrying the cleaved heads of the Ayodhya army on their spears. Of the bloodied swords and dresses.

Imagine being an ordinary citizen of Ayodhya, watching as Mir Baqi’s rapacious soldiers start their plunder. Hear the pitiful cries of the women as they are violated in front of their husbands, brothers, fathers and children. Fill your eyes with tears on the plights of young children being taken as war booty, as sex slaves to be sold in the distant bazaars of Baghdad.

Imagine the city’s roads running red with blood. Of the sacred river Sarayu, taking the blood of her beloved people into her bosom.

Imagine the plight of the Brahmins in the temples, as they await the inevitable. Imagine them as they are, weapon-less, chanting their mantras and prayers, beseeching Bhagwan Ram to save them.

Imagine the fear that would have gripped them as they watched the uncouth Timurid hordes lay siege to their temple. Draw in your mind’s eyes the scene. Of the temple under attack. Soldiers hacking away at the Idols and Icons. Cutting of noses and ears. And the Brahmins, as they stood in their path. Imagine crowbars being used to smash the temple walls. Think of Mir Baqi astride his horse, stepping into the Garba Griha, the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, and smashing the idol of Ram Lalla to the ground, to be trodden on by his soldiers. Imagine the wicked laughter of those savages.

Imagine what must have passed through the minds of the citizens of Ayodhya as they see Mir Baqi start building a mosque on one of the holiest places of this land. Using the very same stones that housed Ram Lalla. What agony must the people have endured in their hearts? Can you not hear the silent cries that would have filled the city as they watched the mosque come up? Perhaps the original Ram Lalla’s Idol was smashed and used outside the gates of the mosque so the faithful could step on it, to further humiliate the natives.

Step forward a few centuries and imagine the utter desolation of the land. Amidst that desolation stands a mosque on the holiest of Hindu sites. Funnily enough, the Hindus haven’t forgotten about what that original site meant to them. They have still been praying at that site. Praying and hoping that someday, in the distant future, the temple would stand on that spot again.

Spare a thought for generations of Hindus who continued to believe in that and kept alive the memory of the temple that had been destroyed many years ago. Spare a thought for the indescribable hurt and pain of seeing a scene of triumphant invasion on the hillock that had once housed their Ram Lalla.

Spare a thought for Mahant Raghubir Das, who, in 1885, filed a court case to build a temple adjacent to the mosque.

Spare a thought for those who, in 1949,  in the dead of night, placed Ram Lalla inside the precincts of the defunct mosque.

Spare a thought for those 1000s of kar sevaks who gave it their all. Spare a thought for the Kothari Brothers and 100s of other karsevaks, who were killed by the police opening fire on them.

Spare a thought for Lal Krishna Advaniji and Ashok Singhalji and their rath yatra that ultimately culminated in reducing a hated symbol of triumphalism to dust.

Spare a thought for the next generation of Hindus who still waited nearly thirty years for a court verdict to deliver that land to them.

And now, after sparing a thought for all those who went before us, rejoice. Rejoice, because this is a seminal event in not just the history of India, but in civilizational history. Rejoice – because never before has a non-monotheistic, non-expansionist, non-proselytizing faith, EVER taken back its temple, once demolished.

It didn’t happen to the Romans and the Greeks and the Egyptians and the Zoroastrians and the Yazidis and the Mayans and Aztecs and Native Americans or the Australian Aborigines. This is a unique event in human history. So rejoice.

And then celebrate the return of Bhagwan Shri Ram Lalla to his home. A home, lovingly built by contributions from ordinary Hindus from across the land.

Rejoice!

Ram Lalla is finally home.

Arun Krishnan is the author of Battle of Vathapi: Nandi’s Charge.

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

The post The Homecoming Of Ram: A Triumph Of Faith And Resilience appeared first on The Commune.

The Ram Temple in Ayodhya is soon to receive a magnificent eight-foot-tall gold-plated marble throne for the idol of Lord Ram, which is currently being meticulously crafted by skilled artisans in Rajasthan.

Anil Mishra, a member of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, has confirmed that this resplendent throne is expected to grace Ayodhya by December 15, as reported by the Economic Times.

The designated location for this splendid throne is the inner sanctum of the Ram Temple, with the throne itself measuring eight feet in height, three feet in length, and four feet in width.

Mishra also mentioned that devout followers of Lord Ram have made generous donations of gold and silver items, including coins and bricks, both prior to and following the formation of the Trust. However, to address security concerns, these contributions will be melted down into a solid block under the supervision of a reputable organization, ensuring their safekeeping.

In anticipation of the grand consecration ceremony, construction efforts for the Ram Temple have been accelerated, with an expanded workforce to meet the demands of the project. Mishra stressed the importance of completing the ground floor of the temple by December 15, regardless of any challenges.

He provided updates on the progress, noting that the first floor is 80% complete, the construction of the inner sanctum is finished, and work on the flooring of the Parikrama Marg has also been completed. The current focus is on installing marble on the floor of the Griha Mandap and other areas, including the stairs.

Mishra further elaborated on the ongoing construction work, stating that the roofing work on all three floors of the passenger convenience center has been finalized, and safety equipment is currently being installed.

The entrance gate of the outer wall (parkota) of the Ram Mandir is in its final stages of construction and is expected to be completed by the end of November. Furthermore, 17 out of the total 19 pillars on the first floor have been installed, and it is anticipated that the first floor will also have a roof by December 15.

Subscribe to our channels on Telegram and WhatsApp and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

The post Eight-Foot Tall Gold-Plated Marble Throne For Ram Lalla In Ayodhya appeared first on The Commune.

Special costumes have been made to adorn the baby Rama statue during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Ram Temple.

Brothers Sankarlal and Bhagavatlal ‘Pahaadi’ who run the ‘Babulal Tailors’ have donated 2 clothes embroidered with 9 stones and embroidered with gold thread.

The family which has been in the business of sewing clothes for deities and for a few seers has been sewing clothes for the idol of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya for the last few decades. Their father Babulal started stitiching the clothes for Ram Lalla since 1985.

For the Bhoomi Poojan event, they have meticulously stitched

They have sewn clothes for Ram in saffron and green colours. The dress is made of velvet and has navratnas (9 precious stones) sewn with gold thread. The green colour one would be worn by Ram Lalla on the Bhoomi Poojan day followed by the saffron one the next day.

These clothes were stitched in front of the idol of Lord Ram, the brothers were quoted saying in the Economic Times.

The idols of Lakshman, Sita, Bharat, Shatrughan, Hanuman and the Saaligraam will also be having dress stitiched from the same cloth.

Shankarlal is assisted by his nephews Pawan Kumar, Sanjay Kumar and Shravan Kumar. His son Rajveer who is in class 7 will assist him in the business as soon as he finishes class 8.

The post Ram Lalla to get dress made out of gold threads appeared first on The Commune.