Lord Ram posters dotting the city, saffron flags with the deity's picture everywhere, devotional songs blaring through loudspeakers and special screens live-telecasting the Ram Lalla 'pran pratishtha' from Ayodhya! Delhi was drenched in the devotion of Lord Ram on Monday.
There was a Diwali like atmosphere as many residential societies, temples and markets across the national capital were decorated with special lights and flower patterns while chants of 'Jai Shri Ram' rent the air as people held Sundarkand recitals, took out rallies and organised 'bhandara'. . Priests performed puja at decked-up temples, while 'havans' were also held at several places on the occasion. Over 25 lakh diyas were lit in 700 markets across the capital city.
In the evening, people lit diyas (earthen lamps) at their homes and burst firecrackers to celebrate the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Markets were illuminated with diyas in different formations of words like Ram, Om and swastika symbol.
People in the religious processions danced to devotional songs. Arrangements were made for special prayers in temples across the national capital. With demand skyrocketing, the prices of saffron flags, Lord Ram posters and photos have gone up.
The new idol of Ram Lalla was consecrated at the newly constructed temple here amid grand celebrations in the temple town, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi participating in the rituals. At the heart of Delhi -- Connaught Place -- the bustling hub of commercial and leisure activities, arrangements were made to show the live telecast of the 'pran pratishtha' ceremony from Ayodhya. There was a "bhajan-kirtan" programme with a playlist curated by five DJs. An 11-kg laddoo was offered to Lord Ram.
Chamber Of Trade and Industry (CTI), one of the leading organisations of traders and industrialists in Delhi, said special programmes were organised in small and large 700 markets of Pitampura, Connaught Place, Karol Bagh, Rajouri Garden and Tilak Nagar. CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal said there was a Diwali-like atmosphere in the markets across the national capital.
"There was an atmosphere of joy and happiness in markets. Traders distributed sweets at many places. Sunderkand recitals were organised. People took out Shobha Yatras and burst crackers. In many areas, music bands also performed," Goyal said.
Amit Gupta, joint secretary of the New Delhi Traders' Association, said the celebrations in Connaught Place commenced at 11 am. There is a "bhajan-kirtan" programme with a playlist curated by five DJs. An 11-kg laddoo was offered to Lord Ram. Gupta said they will light up diyas at the inner circle of Connaught Place.
Rakesh Kumar Yadav, president of Sadar Bazar Trade Association, said, "Puja and aarti have been completed, and 'dhol' was played. Bhandara prasad was also distributed among the devotees." The temples in the city performed special puja and aarti. The offered food through tbhandaras while people were seen donating winter clothes. The Shri Sidh Shakti Peeth Shanidham Mandir at Asola installed its own idol of lord Ram. "We have installed an idol of Lord Ram in the temple coinciding with Ayodhya's idol installation ceremony," it said.