The traders and shop owners in Delhi's famous Connaught Place market will celebrate the consecration of Ram temple in Ayodhya by holding various programmes, including lighting of 1.25 lakh diyas (earthen lamps) on the historic day, said New Delhi Traders’ Association (NDTA) joint secretary Amit Gupta on Friday.
Many restaurants in CP have pledged to serve exclusively vegetarian food on the day of "pran pratishtha" ceremony in Ayodhya, said Gupta. The whole Connaught place (CP) market complex will be decorated with saffron flags bearing image of Lord Ram, he added.
A large LED screen will be installed at the inner circle of CP for live broadcast of the "pran pratishtha" ceremony in Ayodhya for the people in the area, said the joint secretary of the New Delhi Traders Association (NDTA).
During the ceremony, the local traders and people will perform puja with blowing of conches, ringing bells, he added. Gupta said a specially prepared "laddoo" weighing 11 KG will be offered during the rituals and taken as prasad, adding a "Sundar Kand" recital programme will also be held.
Gupta further said all those present, including the shopkeepers and the CP visitors, will light "Ram Diyas" in the evening.
Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) Chairman Brijesh Goyal and President Subhash Khandelwal said that special programmes will be organised on January 22 in more than 100 retail and wholesale markets.
There will be a Bhandara in Kashmiri Gate, garlands have been put up in Kamla Nagar, and saffron flags have been put up in Khan Market. Sunderkand will be held in Laxmi Nagar. There will be lighting like Diwali in Dariba Kalan, jewellers will give discounts to the customers, Ram concert will be held.
Boxes of laddus will be distributed in Bhagirath Palace and the gates will be decorated. Beautiful lighting arrangements are being made in Naya Bazaar. 21 thousand lamps will be lit in Sarojini Nagar Market. Saffron balloons and flags will be put up in Lajpat Nagar market, Sundarkand path will be recited. Special arrangements are being made in Rohini and shopkeepers of Nehru Place will also celebrate Diwali on the day of Pran Pratistha.
Special decorations will be done in Chandni Chowk and Sadar Bazaar and a Shobha yatra will be held.
The "pran pratishtha" ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya will be performed on January 22 in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
