Ayodhya: Ayodhya witnessed a massive influx of devotees on January 22 as they gathered to mark the one-year anniversary of ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of Ram Lalla at the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Temple. The occasion is being celebrated with great reverence and enthusiasm.
Since the announcement of the completion of one year since the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony, Ayodhya has seen a significant rise in the number of visitors and tourists. Devotees from across the country and beyond thronged the temple to commemorate the momentous occasion.
#WATCH | Ayodhya, UP | Devotees throng to Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Temple in Ayodhya on the occasion of Ram Lalla’s ‘Pran Pratishtha’ completing 1 year.
Ravi from Hyderabad says, “We had been planning for three months for this date… Three days before we went to Prayagraj and took a… pic.twitter.com/CTJWnGbIrU
— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2025
Rituals on one-year anniversary
‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony on January 22, 2024, had been a grand and historic occasion, marking the consecration of Lord Ram’s idol in the temple. It was a moment of spiritual and cultural significance for millions of Hindus around the world.
The anniversary celebrations took place on January 11, 2025, which coincided with the Hindu calendar’s Shukla Paksha during the month of Paush. In 2024, the same date had witnessed the formal ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony, and this year, the rituals followed the alignment of the Hindu calendar, making the occasion even more special.
The day’s events started early with Agnihotra rituals, performed twice — once from 8 am to 11 am and again from 2 pm to 5 pm. These fire rituals, accompanied by mantras from the Shukla Yajurveda, were a significant part of the ceremonies. The chanting of the mantras and prayers created a spiritually charged atmosphere in the temple, with devotees participating in these sacred practices.
Main ritual
Following the Agnihotra, the chanting of 6 lakh Shri Ram mantras took place, along with the recitation of the Ram Raksha Stotra and Hanuman Chalisa, further enhancing the devotional spirit of the day. These prayers and chants were part of the rituals that have now become a cherished tradition at the Ram Mandir.
The main ritual of the day was Maha Abhishek of Lord Ram, which was performed with great devotion. The Maha Abhishek is a ceremonial bathing of the idol of Lord Ram with sacred substances, symbolizing purification and a divine blessing. After this, devotees were given the opportunity to witness the Mangal Darshan, a special viewing of Lord Ram in his divine form.
On January 22, 2024, the opening of the Ram temple and the placement of Ram Lalla on his rightful seat was attended by several dignitaries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who performed the main rituals of the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony.
