Over 1,100 enthusiastic riders, carrying saffron banners with the image of the Ram temple, participated in a massive car rally in the Bay Area, California, ahead of the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
The car rally, organised by six volunteer Hindus from the Bay Area, passed through the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and various parts of San Francisco and Silicon Valley before culminating in a public meeting that included a cultural program and dances to the popular Ram songs on Saturday evening. The event was followed by prasad distribution and a Tesla car light show.
Led by a giant Ram Rath, the rally covered almost 100 miles and was escorted by two police cars for security reasons. Three digital trucks alongside the rally played videos of Ram’s life story with life-size pictures of Ram, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman. “The event, held in celebration of the Ram temple, drew an overwhelming response, surpassing all expectations,” Rohit Sharma, one of the six organisers, told PTI over the phone.
“Despite unexpected rain, prompting a change in the ending station to Warm Spring BART station, over 2,000 enthusiastic Ram bhakts, waving saffron flags, singing Ram Bhajans, beating drums, transformed the area into a mini-Ayodhya,” said Deepti Mahajan, the lead organiser. “It was a first-of-its-kind rally held by Hindus in America and participants were emotionally charged and overjoyed. Mainstream Americans were surprised with the amount of devotion amongst participants when they were told about the event being held thousands of miles away in Ayodhya for the inauguration of Ram temple after 500 years,” Deepak Bajaj, one of the organisers, said.
The Tesla light show, a special feature with 170 registered cars coordinated by Vamsi Rajanala, exceeded expectations with over 300 cars dazzling the crowd.
“The rally, complemented by a Tesla light show, rhythmic dhol beats, and a delectable food feast elevated the event to unprecedented heights,” Bajaj said. Param Desai, also one of the organisers, said the grand celebration not only marked a significant cultural event, but also showcased the spirit of togetherness and the deep-rooted cultural ties within the community.
Indian Americans celebrate Ram Mandir inauguration
Indian-Americans living in the Boston city of the US celebrated the Ram Mandir (Temple) inauguration, which is scheduled for January 22, and India’s 75th Republic Day at an event. The event held at the historic Union Station of Worcester, over 45 miles west of Boston, was addressed by the city of Worcester Mayor Joseph M. Petty and Massachusetts State Senator Mike Moore. Mayor Petty issued a proclamation for January 26 as the 75th Republic Day of India. The proclamation encouraged all residents of the city of Worcester to recognise and participate in its observance and extend “our warmest congratulations to the American Hindu, Sikh, Jain and Asian-American communities on the auspicious inauguration of the Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22.
In his speech, the mayor highlighted the shared values between India and the USA, underscoring the natural alliance between the two nations.
State Senator Mike Moore, in his remarks, emphasised the natural alliance between India and the United States.
He expressed optimism that the inauguration marked the end of a 500-plus-year struggle and heralded an era of happiness and prosperity for the people.
The event attended by eminent members of the community was organised by the Foundation of Indian Americans – New England. Inauguration of Ram Mandir is a “dream come true” said its president Abhishek Singh.
In his speech, he envisioned the start of a Ramrajya era, characterized by adherence to Shri Ram’s principles and a prosperous future.