Latest news with #PranPratistha
Indian Express
5 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
Second Pran Pratistha in Ayodhya today: How it will be different from the first
NEARLY ONE and a half years after the Pran Pratistha of the Ram Lalla idol at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the town will on Thursday witness a second Pran Pratistha. The construction work on the main temple is nearing completion, with the stage set on June 5 for the consecration of the Ram Darbar made out of white makrana marble on the first floor, depicting Lord Ram in his 'king form', accompanied by Goddess Sita, Hanuman and three brothers. Simultaneously, consecration will also take place at the seven temples dedicated to different deities in the parcotta (rampart) of the main temple on Thursday. However, unlike last year, the town is rather quiet this time around, with the focus mainly on the religious rituals involving 101 Acharyas from different parts of the country including Kashi, Ayodhya, Basti, Delhi, Kolkata, Devprayag, Haridwar, Jammu etc, who have come to perform the rituals for the Ram Darbar as well as the other temples. While activities in the rest of the town are progressing as usual, except for a few restrictions, the chanting of mantras and havans are taking place at the nine Yagya Kundas simultaneously. Since there is no major influx of VIPs, unlike the previous year, traffic restrictions were also kept to a minimum till Thursday. However, on June 5, traffic restrictions have been put in place across the town as Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is set to take part in the consecration rituals and also attend the 'Trayodashi' event to mark the birth anniversary of the Saryu River, as well as Ganga Dussehra functions. June 5 is also Adityanath's 53rd birthday. An official with the Ram Janma Bhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust said that apart from the religious rituals, there would be 'no event this time' and the focus is mainly on the religious rituals this time and on sadhus and acharyas performing the same or would be participating on the final day – Thursday. He pointed out that CM Adityanath has been invited as he is a saint himself and to also mark his birthday. According to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, the Pran Pratishtha rituals will begin at 11 am on Thursday, featuring special worship, vedic chanting and havan ceremonies for the installation of the idols. Trust Secretary Champat Rai informed that these rituals would conclude around 1:30 pm on Thursday, with the performing of arti. Devotees from across the country can continue to visit the Ram Temple as well as Hanuman Garhi temple during the rituals, officials said. Starting June 3, around 12 hours of rituals have been performed daily – from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm. Officials at the Trust informed that while the main Acharya leading the rituals is Jai Prakash Tripathi from Kashi, next to him would be Acharya Chandra Bhanu Sharma from Delhi. Ram Temple Trust member Anil Mishra and his wife will be the main 'Yajman' at the event. On Wednesday, the Utsav Vigrahas (smaller idols for the purpose of celebration) were taken on a tour of the premises. Unlike the first day (Tuesday), apart from the Yagya Mandap, worship was also done at the places where Pran Pratishtha was held. Trust officials informed that from 6:30 am onwards, the invoked deities were worshipped for two hours in the yajna mandap. Then the 'annadhiwas' ritual was carried out, where the idols are offered food. Then, the bathing of the idols was carried out. Later, from 2 pm to 3 pm, the Utsav Vigrahas (or the celebration idols' were taken for a visit to the premises, followed by Shayya Dhiwas, where the idols are put to rest. In the late afternoon, the Vastu Puja of the palaces was performed, where these idols have been placed.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Elon Musk's father visits Ram Temple: ‘Wonderful, amazing… Has inspired so many'
BUSINESSMAN AND father of tech billionaire Elon Musk, Errol Musk, reached Ayodhya on Wednesday along with his daughter Alexandra Musk and visited the Ram Temple as well as the Hanuman Garhi temple. Musk also met priests at both the temples. 'Temples are marvelous and the people are even more marvelous,' said Musk. The visit came a day before the conclusion of the three-day rituals of the second Pran Pratistha at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Terming his experience as 'wonderful' and 'amazing', Musk also pointed out that the Musk, who is the Global Advisor to Servotech Renewable Power System Ltd, began his India trip on June 1 and will be in the country till June 6, a spokesperson for the Haryana-based company said in a statement. 'It is a wonderful opportunity to see something amazing that has inspired so many people in this country. India is a wonderful place,' said Musk. He further said, 'We have a lot of Indians in my country…I know the Indian culture, coming here just reinforces it. Very good culture, very kind people, full of love, decency…' said Musk soon after his arrival at the Ayodhya airport in a chartered plane around 2:30 pm. 'I am looking forward to spending a lot of time in India. I am very impressed with what I have seen,' he said. Echoing him, Alexandra Musk told mediapersons, 'I have seen the culture, people and food and I am excited to see more. India is a very welcoming place.' Asked if he has any plans of investment in Uttar Pradesh in particular, Musk nodded and said that these 'are being worked out.' – WITH PTI INPUTS
The Hindu
6 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Second phase of Ram temple consecration starts in Ayodhya
Series of ceremonies to mark the second phase of consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya began on Tuesday. The events started with processions from the Saryu River followed by rituals for the 'Pran Pratistha' of the deities at the Ram Darbar on the first floor of the temple as well as in seven other temples located within the ramparts. Heavy security arrangements were made across the city for the three-day event, which will conclude on Thursday, on the occasion of Ganga Dasara. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is scheduled to attend four key events related to the consecration, including the main ceremony, the Saryu Trayodashi Utsav, the birthday celebrations of trust president Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, and an event on the World Environment Day. Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Champat Rai, has urged the devotees to avoid visiting as no special arrangements for the crowd have been made considering the heat. The trust has also not made any public invitations for the event. 'The temple remains open for darshan of Lord Ram but the first floor of Ram Darbar and nearby temples are still under construction and are not open to devotees,' he said. Ayodhya District Magistrate Nikhil Tikaram Funde said considering the extra rush in town, arrangements such as shaded waiting areas, drinking water, sanitation and ORS sachets had been put in place for devotees. Emergency hospital beds had also been reserved across the district.
Indian Express
02-06-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Ceremony to mark 2nd Pran Pratishtha on Ram Temple premises to begin today: Trust
A GRAND ceremony to mark the second Pran Pratishtha at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya is set to begin from Tuesday where consecration of deities will be performed in the Ram Darbar on the first floor of the Ram Temple as well as in seven other temples located within the parikote (ramparts). The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, established for the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, on Monday said it has completed preparations for the event, which will be attended by several VVIPs, including Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The celebrations will culminate on June 5, coinciding with the auspicious occasion of Ganga Dussehra. In January last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over the Pran Pratistha (consecration ceremony) of Lord Ram Lalla in the sanctum sanctorum of the RamTemple in Ayodhya. On Monday evening, the auspicious ceremony began with a Kalash (holy pot) procession starting from the banks of the Saryu River. Around 200 local women went to the riverbank and collected holy water in kalash (sacred pots) and brought it to the temple, which is around 2.5 km away. This procession passed through Veena Chowk, Ram Path, Singarhat and Rangmahal Barrier before reaching the Ram Temple complex. The pots containing water will be kept at a designated place inside the temple. The water would be used from Tuesday for several purposes during rituals inside the temple during the three-day function. Ram Temple Trust member Dr Anil Mishra told The Indian Express that the kalash yatra was completed on Monday. According to officials, on June 3 and 4, worship will be performed, during which 1,975 mantras will be chanted and offerings will be made to the Fire God (Agni Devta) each day for 12 hours from 6:30 am. Along with this, devotional recitations, including the Ram Raksha Stotra, Hanuman Chalisa and other bhajans, will also be organised. On the final day, the rituals would start from 6:30 am and will continue till 1 pm. After the Pran Pratishtha, arti bhog would start at all the eight places but would not be open for the public for sometime as of now, said another Trust official. The main ceremony will take place on June 5, during which the Pran Pratishtha will be conducted for the Ram Darbar idols (Lord Ram, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman), as well as the consecration of idols in seven other temples. A government official said CM Adityanath is scheduled to attend four key programmes during the event. Apart from the main Pran Pratishtha, he will also take part in the Maa Saryu Trayodashi Janmotsav, the birth anniversary celebrations of Trust President Mahant Nritya Gopal Das and a plantation drive in Pushp Vatika to mark World Environment Day. Sadhus and others who could not attend the Pran Pratishtha ceremony held on January 22, 2024, have been invited, the official added. Well-known scholar and priest from Chandauli, Jayprakash Tiwari, along with 101 Vedic acharyas, will perform the Pran Pratishtha of the deities in all eight temples simultaneously, said Dr Anil Mishra who would be the main 'yajman' on the consecration day. Meanwhile, to ensure the convenience of the devotees, Ayodhya District Magistrate (DM) Nikhil Tikaram Funde said extensive arrangements have been made, including shaded rest areas, drinking water stations and mobile toilets. Special measures have also been taken in light of the prevailing heat, with 10 hospital beds reserved in each district hospital for emergencies. ORS packets are being distributed at the temple premises, outposts and police stations, said the official. Resting areas and other amenities have also been made available within the temple premises for pilgrims. Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Grover said that multiple joint inspections have been conducted along with the DM. Security has been intensified with the deployment of ATS and STF teams to ensure a smooth and secure event. Security for both VVIPs and devotees remains our top priority, the official added. The official said that like last year's celebration, a similarly large turnout is anticipated for this event as well.
United News of India
07-05-2025
- United News of India
Jagannath temple in Digha becomes main source of tourist attraction
Kolkata, May 7 (UNI) Though steeped in controversy since its inauguration — ranging from allegations of using surplus neem wood from the Puri temple for idol carving to claims of dedicating it as Jagannath Dham — the Jagannath temple in Digha has drawn unprecedented crowds, becoming the primary attraction for visitors to the coastal town. With more than one lakh visitors on Sunday (May 3) — the highest since its inauguration on April 30 — the temple has seen a cumulative footfall of around five lakh over the past week, making it obvious that the controversy hardly has any impact on the steady stream of visitors coming to see this architectural marvel. 'We cannot say the actual number of visitors to the temple, but it is huge. According to the police, it is not less than five lakhs. The visitors are coming all through the day,' a senior official of the temple administration told UNI. 'There is a huge influx of visitors in the temple and we are taking all steps to ensure that the visitors are safe and secure. The number is really huge on Sundays and holidays. We are also keeping a close watch so that there is no chaos inside the temple premise. Huge number of police and civic volunteers are deployed to maintain law and order,' District magistrate of East Midnapore Purnendu Majhi said. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee officially inaugurated the grand Jagannath Dham temple in Digha, located around 185 km from Kolkata, on April 30. This newly constructed temple is a magnificent architectural replica of the famous Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, which lies just over 345 km from Digha. The inauguration marked the completion of several years of meticulous planning and skilled craftsmanship. The event was also highlighted by the 'Pran Pratistha' ceremony, a sacred consecration ritual held with high security and reverence. The Jagannath Dham temple in Digha has been built in the traditional Kalinga architectural style, known for its intricate carvings and towering spires. The structure is made from pink sandstone sourced from Rajasthan, and more than 800 artisans contributed their expertise to bring the temple to life. The design of the temple closely mirrors that of the 12th century Jagannath temple in Puri, incorporating iconic features such as the Bhoga Mandap (hall for offering food), Nata Mandap (dancing hall), Jagamohan (assembly hall), and the Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum). However, in a significant departure from its inspiration, the Digha temple welcomes people of all religions, including non-Hindus and foreigners, thereby promoting inclusivity and cultural harmony. Spanning a vast 20-acre area, the temple complex is not only a religious site but also an architectural marvel. It features imposing gateways such as the Singhadwar (lion gate), Byaghradwar (tiger gate), Hastidwar (elephant gate), and Ashwadwar (horse gate). Within the complex, there is also a shrine dedicated to Goddess Lakshmi and a separate Bhogshala, a kitchen facility for preparing offerings for Lord Jagannath. Developed at a cost of Rs 250 crore by the West Bengal government, this temple is poised to become a significant spiritual destination and a major attraction for tourists and pilgrims alike. UNI XC PRS
