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News18
an hour ago
- General
- News18
From Ram Lalla To Righteous King: Ayodhya Gears Up For ‘Pran Pratishtha 2.0'
Last Updated: The June 5 ritual will install Raja Ram—depicted in his regal, sovereign form—on the temple's first floor along with life-sized idols of his brothers, Goddess Sita & Lord Hanuman The ancient temple town of Ayodhya is once again reverberating with chants of devotion as it prepares for another spiritual milestone—'Pran Pratishtha 2.0'—scheduled for June 5. Following the historic consecration of Ram Lalla on January 22, 2024, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is now readying for a second round of consecration rituals, which will mark the installation of Raja Ram in his majestic, kingly form on the temple's first floor. This phase of ritual sanctification also includes the Pran Pratishtha of multiple deities across the complex, including in seven surrounding shrines and seven additional mandapams. For the three-day celebration, which will start from June 3, streets have been adorned with marigold garlands, flags, and rangolis. Officials associated with Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra said Vedic rituals, yagnas, ceremonial processions, and a grand aarti are on the agenda. 'The main event—the consecration of Raja Ram—will take place precisely at 11.25am on June 5, which coincides with the festival of Ganga Dussehra and also marks the birthday of UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is expected to grace the occasion as the chief guest," the official said. Balak Ram to Raja Ram Unlike the January 2024 ceremony, which saw the consecration of Balak Ram, the child form of Lord Ram, in the sanctum sanctorum on the ground floor, the upcoming ritual will install Raja Ram—depicted in his regal, sovereign form—on the first floor. This depiction will be accompanied by life-sized idols of Goddess Sita, and Lord Ram's brothers Lakshman, Bharat, and Shatrughna, along with Lord Hanuman standing in eternal servitude. In addition to the primary idols, the upcoming rituals will also sanctify seven shrines located within the temple enclosure (parikota), each dedicated to a specific deity placed according to Vastu Shastra. These include Lord Shiva in the northeast (Ishaan), Lord Ganesha in the southeast (Agni), Lord Hanuman in the southern wing, Surya Dev in the southwest (Nairitya), Goddess Bhagwati in the northwest (Vayavya), Annapurna Mata in the northern wing, and Sheshavatar Lakshman at the southwestern edge. Furthermore, seven other temples within the complex, dedicated to revered sages and figures from the Ramayan—such as Valmiki, Vashishtha, Vishwamitra, Ahalya, Shabari, and Nishad Raj—will also undergo Pran Pratishtha, thus completing a spiritually and culturally rich network of temples within the main precinct. Champat Rai Urges Restraint Speaking about the ceremony, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai emphasised the sanctity of the event. 'No one has been invited specifically for June 3, 4, or 5. We urge devotees not to visit Ayodhya merely upon hearing the term 'Pran Pratishtha'. Only those wishing to have darshan of Ram Lalla should come. The rituals are sacred and space is limited," Rai said, underlining that this event is primarily a ritual affair, not a political or public spectacle. Over 101 Vedic scholars from Ayodhya and Kashi have been invited to oversee and conduct the ceremonies, which began informally with a Kalash Yatra on June 2 and will culminate with elaborate abhishek, aarti, and bhog offerings to the newly installed idols on June 5. Swarna Shikhara: Golden Crown of Devotion One of the architectural highlights in this phase of the temple's development is the newly installed Swarna Shikhara—a golden spire that now crowns the sanctum of the Ram Mandir. Recently unveiled by the trust, this gold-plated pinnacle stands as a radiant symbol of divine glory and architectural splendour. Executed in the traditional Nagar style of temple architecture, the Swarna Shikhara has been crafted with intricate detailing and gold plating, turning the temple's highest point into a beacon of devotion visible from miles around. According to temple architects, it represents spiritual ascension and the temple's cosmic axis, or Meru, in Hindu tradition. Heavy Security Arrangements Over 10,000 personnel from UP Police and central paramilitary forces have been deployed to ensure smooth execution of events. Aerial surveillance with drones, an integrated network of CCTV cameras, and multi-layered checkpoints are all in place. Ayodhya District Magistrate Nikhil Tikaram Funde said: 'Crowd management and logistical arrangements have been carefully planned to accommodate the expected influx of pilgrims. We have made comprehensive arrangements to ensure no inconvenience is caused to pilgrims. Traffic and crowd flow are being actively managed with the support of both civil and police administration." Temple Nearing Completion by October 2025 The construction of the Ram Temple began formally with the 'bhumi pujan' on August 5, 2020, following the Supreme Court's landmark verdict in November 2019 that granted the disputed site for temple construction. Since then, the temple has progressed rapidly. Built entirely with pink sandstone using traditional methods, the Ram Mandir measures 380 feet in length, 250 feet in width, and rises to a height of 161 feet. It rests on 392 intricately carved pillars and features 44 ornately designed doors. With the completion of this phase, the temple complex—comprising exhibition galleries, a research center, and spiritual gardens—is expected to be fully functional by October 2025. Ram Mandir Construction Committee chairman Nripendra Misra said the final stages of work are nearing completion. 'This phase of Ram Mandir construction represents not just spiritual grandeur but also national pride and cultural renaissance," said Misra. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published:
The Hindu
6 hours ago
- General
- The Hindu
The Goddess leads us to Him
There are several instances in the Ramayana, where the mere presence of Sita beside Lord Rama, ensured that the latter did not punish those who deserved to be punished. One instance is that of Parashurama, said M.A. Venkatakrishnan in a discourse. Rama and Sita were returning to Ayodhya after their wedding. Parashurama appeared before them suddenly and confronted Rama. He said he was an ascetic, engaged in penance. He was the inheritor of the Vishnu bow from his father sage Jamadagni. He had heard that Rama had broken the Siva dhanus. Equally significant was the Vishnu bow, said Parashurama. He then challenged Rama and said the latter should shoot an arrow from the Vishnu bow. Rama picked up the bow and asked Parashurama what the target should be. Parashurama chose to have the merits of his tapas eliminated, and Rama released the arrow, and Parashurama was deprived of the benefits of his penance. Rama could easily have killed Parashurama, whose life was spared because of the presence of Sita with the Lord. Tataka was killed by Rama before He wed Sita. Tataka had not personally harmed Rama. He killed her only because sage Viswamitra asked Him to. But Soorpanakha had threatened Sita. Yet He spared her life. Again, this was because Sita was beside Him. Sastras tell us to seek God, and that is what Soorpanakha had tried to do. So why was she punished? One must reach Lord Narayana through His consort. But Soorpanakha was interested only in Rama. She saw Sita as an adversary. Ravana wanted Sita to be his and saw Rama as an enemy, and so he was eliminated. We must not worship the Goddess without worshipping the Lord. Nor should we worship Him without worshipping Her. She is the one who helps us reach Him. Without Her help, reaching His feet is impossible.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Keeping the faith
Bad times may come into our lives in one form or another. Sita wailed and said destiny came to her in the form of a deer. Despite Lakshmana tendering a word of caution to Sita, she did not pay heed and traduced him with derogatory remarks. Manas, Chittham and Buddhi are relative terms. If people are fascinated by and drawn to worldly things, it is called Chittham. Suppose we are in a state of wavering; it is known as Manas. A controlled and steady position is named Buddhi. Praying to God will make our minds steadfast and unwavering. Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita that He grants a 'clean mind' to those who worship Him. Sita says on our behalf that people may go berserk and lose their mental stability in times of adversity. We must be patient, exercise restraint, and be cautious during testing times. When the auspicious time arrives, it will automatically prompt our minds to think of good and noble things. We should not slander others. It is of three types: through the mind, words and physical faculties. It is said that it will ricochet through the same medium that we used to calumniate others. Sri Damodhara Dikshithar stated in a discourse that God reveals good or bad omens to those who have faith. It is a tradition for people to break coconuts in temples as a sign of good fortune. They pray that it should be correctly broken and should not be stale. For dire prognostications, if any, people may light lamps before God or pray to Goddess Durga. Upon Hanuman's arrival, Sita experienced favourable omens at Ashokavana, indicating that good things would happen. Seeds dried up due to the wind and scorching sun would sprout with a spell of rain. Sita was all happy with the signs of good omens. Like the moon emerging from an eclipse with an incredible shine, Sita's dowdy face changed and glowed with all its brightness.
NDTV
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Dharma Productions Issues Statement After Homebound Cinematographer Gets Accused Of Sexual Misconduct
New Delhi: Cinematographer Pratik Shah recently came under the radar when several allegations about his inappropriate behaviour surfaced online. He was accused by filmmaker Abhinav Singh, based on testimonies from over 20 women. Pratik had also asked for nudes or offered to send them, claimed Singh after victims reached out to him via Instagram. Now after a day of such claims being made, Karan Johar's Dharma Productions has issued an official statement to offer a perspective to the several statements making the rounds. What Homebound cinematographer Pratik Shah was accused of abusive, emotional and inappropriate behaviour. A day after the viral accusation was made by Abhinav Singh, the production house has now released an official statement. It reads, "At Dharma Productions we have a zero-tolerance policy against inappropriate behaviour and sexual harassment towards any individual working with us in any capacity, and we treat sexual harassment cases very seriously. Mr Pratik Shah was a freelancer on the project Homebound and was working on it for a limited period. His engagement with us has been completed. During this limited period, our internal committee for POSH didn't receive any complaints against him from any cast or crew on our film Homebound." The Controversy Pratik Shah has now deactivated his social media account after a severe backlash. Abhinav Singh, who has helmed short films like Sita starring Shriya Pilgaonkar and Amazon Mini TV's Yatri Kripya Dhyan De, featuring Shweta Basu Prasad and Shaheer Sheikh, called Shah incredibly manipulative and abusive. The latter highlighted how he had received several testimonies from women. According to The Hollywood Reporter, a source close to the Indian Women Cinematographers' Collective (IWCC) also highlighted that Pratik Shah had come under scrutiny about four years ago. This took place after a young cinematographer contacted a senior IWCC member to report inappropriate behaviour. The woman shared her story and claimed that after reaching out to Pratik Shah on Instagram for work, their conversation went from one thing to another, and soon he asked for her nude snaps. "The girl panicked and reached out to someone senior, who alerted IWCC. A senior member of IWCC reached out to him on WhatsApp and called him out, warning him that this was not acceptable behaviour. He apologized and said it was a one-off incident that won't happen again. This was the investigation that happened, and it was made known that IWCC was cognizant of his behaviour," the source told THR. Abhinav Singh alleged, that over 20 women had reached out to him, calling Shah a "predator." In A Nutshell Homebound's cinematographer Pratik Shah attended the Cannes 2025 Film Festival this year for the film's screening. He was accused of unacceptable sexual advances made towards women, asking for their nudes and sending unsolicited explicit messages to them. Dharma Productions, who has produced Homebound, issued an official statement stating that they have a zero-tolerance policy towards such behaviour. They also added that their association with the accused was limited as he was a freelancer on the project.
India Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Homebound cinematographer accused of sexual misconduct. Dharma Productions reacts
Cinematographer Pratik Shah, who has worked in Hindi films including Neeraj Gaywan's 'Homebound' and Vikramaditya Motwane's 'Jubilee' and 'CTRL', has been accused of sexual harassment. Filmmaker Abhinav Singh, who has helmed short films such as 'Sita' and 'Yatri Kripya Dhyan De', levelled these allegations against him after receiving testimonies from nearly 20 the sexual misconduct allegations emerged, the cinematographer deleted his Instagram profile. According to a report on The Hollywood Reporter India, this isn't the first time that Pratik has been in the news for his sexually inappropriate years ago, a young cinematographer got in touch with a senior member in the Indian Women Cinematographers' Collective (IWCC) to file a complaint against him. The woman claimed that Pratik Shah asked for a nude picture when she reached out to him for work on Instagram. A source told the publication, "The girl panicked and reached out to someone senior, who alerted IWCC. A senior member of IWCC reached out to him on WhatsApp and called him out, warning him that this was not acceptable behaviour. He apologised and said it was a one-off incident that won't happen again. This was the investigation that happened, and it was made known that IWCC was cognisant of his behaviour."Abhinav Singh also claimed that he received testimonies from over 20 women, who called him a predator. He also shared their complaints, hiding their identity, where they alleged receiving 'flirtatious' and 'creepy' messages from Shah's most recent work is Dharma Productions' 'Homebound', which had its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. A day after the allegations surfaced, Dharma Productions issued a per the report, the statement read, "At Dharma Productions, we have zero tolerance policy against inappropriate behaviour and sexual harassment towards any individual working with us in any capacity, and we treat sexual harassment cases very seriously. Mr Pratik Shah was a freelancer on the project Homebound and was working on it for a limited period. His engagement with us has been completed. During this limited period, our internal committee for POSH didn't receive any complaints against him from any cast and crew on our film Homebound."Pratik Shah hasn't responded to the allegations yet.
