Ram Navami Celebrations Ayodhya: The newly constructed Ram temple in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya is adorned for the Ram Navami festivities on Wednesday. These celebrations, observed on the ninth day of the Chaitra month, commemorate the birth of Ram Lalla. This year, the occasion gains special significance with the 'Surya Abhishek' or ‘Surya Tilak’ ceremony, during which the sun's rays will grace the deity's idol's forehead at noon. This marks the first Ram Navmi celebration at Ayodhya following the Pran Pratishtra ceremony of Ram Lalla in January this year.
(Ram Lalla idol at Ayodhya's Ram temple, Image - Ram Janmbhoomi Trust)
Ram Lalla Surya Tilak: Timing And Where To Watch
The Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has announced the much-anticipated 'Surya Tilak' ceremony for Ram Lalla in Ayodhya, scheduled for Wednesday around 12:15 pm. Lasting for four minutes, this celestial event will see the Sun's rays forming a 75 mm 'tilak' on Ram Lalla's forehead.
Scientists from the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee, have meticulously calculated the timings based on the Sun's movement. Using an advanced optomechanical system comprising high-quality mirrors and lenses, the Surya Tilak ceremony will be executed with precision.
The process involves directing the Sun's rays from a mirror installed on the temple's top floor through lenses to another mirror on the second floor before illuminating the sanctum-sanctorum and adorning Ram Lalla's forehead.
(Ram Mandir in Ayodhya decked up ahead of Ram Navami celebrations. Image - Ram Janmbhoomi Trust)
The Surya Abhishek or ‘Surya Tilak’ event will be aired live by the public broadcaster Prasar Bharati on Doordarshan for those watching from home. Live broadcasts will also be available on the Trust's social media platforms. Moreover, viewers can tune in to the celebrations on their mobile devices or on any of the LED screens installed throughout Ayodhya.
Ram Navami Celebrations Ayodhya
Ayodhya has been adorned to welcome devotees for the first Ram Navami after the grand opening of the Ram Mandir. The temple complex is illuminated with colorful lights, and arrangements have been made for the comfort and convenience of worshippers. Devotees have gathered in huge numbers since early morning outside the Ram temple for Ram Navami.
A red carpet has been laid on the Janmabhoomi Path, and temporary canopies have been erected to shield devotees from the scorching sun. Health camps, help booths, and security measures have been put in place across Ayodhya to ensure the safety and well-being of visitors during the festive occasion.
Ram Navami: Security Heightened In Ayodhya
Elaborate security arrangements have been put in place in Ayodhya ahead of the upcoming Ram Navami festivities. The entire Mela area has been segmented into nine zones to facilitate efficient crowd monitoring. Approximately 560 CCTV cameras have been strategically installed across Ayodhya dham.
(View of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya ahead of Ram Navami celebrations. Image - Ram Janmbhoomi Trust)
To ensure the safety and security of the devotees, a heavy deployment of law enforcement personnel is in place. This includes 11 additional superintendents of police, 26 deputy superintendents of police, 150 inspectors, 400 sub-inspectors, 25 female sub-inspectors, and 1,305 chief constables/constables.
In addition to the police force, two companies dedicated to flood relief, one team from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and another team from the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) have been assigned supplementary duties to bolster security measures.