As the first Ram Navami after the consecration of Ram Lalla approaches, preparations are in full swing for a historic celebration marking the grand birth anniversary of Lord Ram after 500 years.

A significant highlight of the festivities will be the Surya tilak, anointing Ram Lalla with the rays of the sun precisely at noon, the auspicious time of his birth.

Scheduled to take place on Ram Navami, the Surya tilak ceremony will commence at exactly 12 noon, symbolising the divine moment of Ram Lalla’s birth.

During this sacred ritual, the rays of the sun will illuminate the divine face of Ram Lalla for approximately four minutes, adorning his forehead with a circular tilak measuring 75 mm.

“This will continue for four minutes,” said Champat Rai, convener of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, expressing optimism about the upcoming event.

“Scientists are meticulously preparing for this unique event, with equipment being installed in the Ram temple, ready for trial. We are very hopeful that we will get Surya tilak of Ram Lalla this year only,” he stated.

Inspired by Lord Ram’s Suryavanshi lineage, a proposal was made during the construction of the Ram temple to integrate scientific methods to ensure that the sun’s rays directly anoint the idol of Ram Lalla.

The Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee, devised an innovative system named the ‘Tilak of Sun Rays’ using mirrors, lenses and brass. This system, devoid of battery or electricity, will bestow the divine tilak upon Lord Ram on the auspicious day of Ram Navami.

The special Surya tilak, measuring 75 mm in diameter, will be a yearly occurrence exclusively on Ram Navami. The optomechanical system on the third floor of the temple comprises high-quality mirrors, lenses and vertical piping with strategically placed lenses. Mirrors and lenses on the ground floor will facilitate the process, ensuring the sunlight cascades onto the idol of Ram Lalla, adorning his forehead with the divine mark for two to three minutes.

The ceremony promises to be a poignant moment for devotees, commemorating the birth of Lord Ram amidst the sacred ambiance of the Ram temple. As preparations reach their final stages, anticipation builds up for this historic event that will be remembered by devotees for years to come.