Thousands of devotees flock to Ayodhya for Ram Lalla idol consecration anniversary | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Thousands of devotees from across India have gathered in Ayodhya to commemorate the first anniversary of the consecration of the Ram Lalla idol at the grand Ram temple.
The three-day celebrations, which began on Saturday and will continue until Monday (January 11-13), have transformed the temple town into a vibrant hub of devotion and festivity.
The anniversary, observed according to the traditional Hindu calendar, commenced with chief minister Yogi Adityanath performing an ‘abhishek’ on the idol and a recital of the Yajurveda. “Ayodhya is soaked completely in the essence and devotion of Lord Ram,” said temple head priest Satyendra Das.
The events are drawing an average daily footfall of 1.5 lakh, with numbers expected to rise further during the festivities. “This huge turnout at the Ram temple also means people from different walks of life are very happy about the consecration of Lord Ram Lalla idol,” Das added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his greetings on this occasion. In a social media post on X, he said, “Best wishes to all the countrymen on the first anniversary of the consecration of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya. This temple, built after centuries of sacrifice, penance and struggle, is a great heritage of our culture and spirituality.”

Expressing his confidence in the temple’s significance, he added, “I am confident that this divine and magnificent Ram temple will become a great inspiration in the accomplishment of the resolution of a developed India.”
Ayodhya Mayor Girish Pati Tripathi described the occasion as the “fulfilment of a dream.” He said, “The happiness is that of seeing our culture flowering and flourishing… I feel privileged to be able to serve the people of this city.”
The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has highlighted the progress on temple construction, with three storeys completed and work on the ‘shikhar’ expected to finish in two months. “It is the result of the hard work of the nodal agencies,” said trust member Anil Mishra.
The celebrations aim to include those unable to attend last year’s historic consecration ceremony. “The trust has decided to invite common people… They will be allowed to join all three days of events,” said Champat Rai, general secretary of the trust.
The original consecration on January 22, 2024, was a landmark event attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called it the beginning of a “strong, capable and divine” India for the next millennium.

For locals like Rajat Singh, the occasion is deeply personal. “This day is special for me and my family members, as we happily remember the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ day,” he said. Another resident, Bharat Singh, called it a “historic day,” adding, “Lord Ram is the symbol of hope and faith for crores of devotees.”
The celebrations include cultural and religious events to commemorate the temple’s inauguration, a culmination of decades of effort to reclaim the site. “The large number of devotees visiting the temple shows their devotion,” said Mishra. Since its construction, the temple has welcomed over three crore visitors.