With just a day to go for Ram Navami celebrations, religious fervor has gripped the residents of Ayodhya — the birthplace of Lord Ram — as well as those living across the state of Uttar Pradesh amid tight security. The state administration is leaving no stone unturned to ensure safe and secure public celebrations, taking care of massive security deployments to holding cultural festivities and innovative arrangements for devotees.
High alert has been sunded across many districts, including Ayodhya, Lucknow, Fatehpur, Meerut, Bareilly, Shahjahanpur and Agra. Security has been significantly ramped up in view of the large crowds of devotees expected to visit Lord Ram’s birthplace as well as sensitivities surrounding the religious event.
Drones will be deployed to monitor religious processions and crowd movement, with directions to police personnel on duty to ensure that processions follow the traditional routes only. Any deviation or act of disorder will invite strict action, officials warned.
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Ayodhya district administration announced plans to sprinkle holy water from the Saryu river on devotees via drones along the newly developed Rampath, a key route leading to the Ram temple. “This symbolic gesture will offer a spiritual experience to lakhs of devotees who may not be able to take a dip in the Saryu,” said Chandra Vijay Singh, Ayodhya’s District Magistrate, during a briefing at the Collectorate auditorium on Friday.
To ensure the comfort of pilgrims, large tents, mats, and drinking water points have been set up along key pathways, including the road leading to Hanumangarhi, so that devotees walking barefoot are not inconvenienced by the scorching sun. Bathing arrangements have also been strengthened at the Saryu ghats.
The centrepiece of the celebration will be the divine appearance of Ram Lalla as a young prince at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir. On April 6, the deity will be adorned with a golden crown and dressed in a special yellow garment crafted by renowned fashion designer Manish Tripathi, who was expected to reach Ayodhya on Saturday with the outfit.
Ram Lalla will be bathed in Panchamrit early in the morning on Sunday, after which he will be dressed in gold and silver-embellished clothing and adorned with jewellery studded with diamonds, pearls and gemstones.
At noon, aarti for Ram Lalla’s divine birth will be performed, followed by a four-minute Surya Tilak — a rare astronomical alignment where the sun’s rays fall directly on the deity’s forehead. “Ramlala dressed as a royal prince will mesmerise the devotees,” said Dr Anil Mishra, trustee of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra.
A two-day cultural festival has been scheduled at Ramkatha Park on April 5 and 6, wherein renowned artistes will perform bhajans, Sohar and Badhai songs dedicated to Lord Ram. The Tourism and Culture Department will also organise exhibitions by various government departments to showcase the heritage of Ayodhya and promote local artisanship.
Hectic activities were on to prepare flower-bedecked tableaus inside the temple complex even as special decorative lighting illuminates the temple every day from 7 pm to 10 pm, adding to the grandeur of the celebrations. Currently, rituals are being conducted at the Yagya Mandap, with participation from religious leaders and civic officials. On Friday, Ayodhya Mayor Mahant Girishpati Tripathi performed havan and puja to seek blessings for a peaceful and joyous celebration.
As anticipation builds up for April 6 festivities, security agencies are working round the clock to ensure peaceful celebrations. Local police are coordinating with intelligence units, even as all district administrations have been instructed to remain vigilant. With lakhs of devotees expected to troop in from across India and abroad, the Ayodhya administration and temple trust are aiming to set a new benchmark for religious celebrations - blending ancient rituals with modern technology.
