Ram temple consecration rituals begin in Ayodhya with akshat pujan

The akshat pujan was performed at the temple site with over 500 kilos of whole rice mixed with turmeric and desi ghee, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust said.

The VHP workers, in yellow kurtas and saffron stoles, carried akshat in brass urns and left the Ram Temple premises.

“These representatives from 45 prants of VHP have left for each of their states carrying the pious kalash with akshat… These akshat invitations along with invites in their local language will be given to people in villages, cities across the country. They will request people to join the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla on January 22 from their respective homes, temples, maths etc and later visit the newly constructed Ram temple in Ayodhya,” said VHP leader Sharad Sharma.

About 25 of these 101 kalash will be distributed across Uttar Pradesh, the remaining will be taken to different states in the country.

“These representatives will further divide the 5 kilos akshat to their subordinate units for distribution in households in villages and cities,” Sharma said.

“Over 10 crore people from across the country will receive this akshat, which is an invite… The day Ram Lalla will be brought to the new temple, our plan is to make it a maha utsav (a grand ceremony) across the country with every household taking part,” Sharma said.

Along with the akshat, the aim is to distribute about 2 crore pamphlets in local languages as an invite to the people to become a part of the celebrations, he added.

The Trust’s secretary Champat Rai said that they would also appeal to every Ram devotee to light five lamps of mustard oil in the evening on the day of consecration.

People will also be asked to gather at their local temples from 11 am to 1 pm on January 22, play shankha (conch), ring bells and chant “Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram” 108 times.

Meanwhile, a two-day-long meeting of Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust began in Ayodhya on Sunday. Besides Trust members, including Champat Rai, the meeting was attended by temple construction committee chief Nipendra Mishra.

On November 9, 2019, the Supreme Court paved the way for the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya. In its ruling, the Supreme Court mandated that a Ram temple be built on the site where the Babri Masjid once stood and that five acres be set aside for the construction of a mosque within the district of Ayodhya.