Consecration fervour grips Ayodhya: 3 days to go, bhajan, kirtan and religious chants rend the air
Despite the unrelenting cold wave, devotees throng temples since as early as 6am while hundreds also assemble at Ram ki Paidi to take a holy dip in Saryu, before joining morning ‘aarti’ in nearby temples
AYODHYA Ayodhya is soaked in religious fervour with three days to go for the momentous consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla. The echoes of bhajan, kirtan, Ram Katha and religious chants in temples, mutts and parks rent the air with a large number of devotees thronging makeshift tents along side roads offering ‘bhandaras’ (free meals) organised by various organizations.
⦁A huge crowd of devotees gathers near Nepali Baba Ashram as chief minister Yogi Adityanath (unseen) visits the ashram, in Ayodhya on Friday. (ANI Photo)
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Despite the unrelenting cold wave, pilgrims and tourists are thronging temples since as early as 6am. Hundreds also assemble at Ram ki Paidi to take a holy dip in Saryu, before joining the morning ‘aarti’ organized in nearby temples.
And this gives flower and sweet vendors brisk business. “A sleepy town is now abuzz with actvities as thousands of people from across the country have arrived. The economy of the town is set to boom,” said Ram Kumar, a store owner.
Policemen deployed in the temple town are on their toes to streamline movement of pilgrims while barriers have been erected in the lanes to check movement of vehicles towards the Ramjanmabhoomi area even as hordes of devotees move to have a glimpse of the temple from a distance.
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Mahant Ram Nayan Das of Dashrath temple said, “The bhandara for pilgrims is continuing round the clock. People are donating edible items, oil and vegetables at temples and mutts for bhandara. The service is for people, majority of whom have come from rural areas.”
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Mahant Ram Nayan Das of Dashrath temple said, “The bhandara for pilgrims is continuing round the clock. People are donating edible items, oil and vegetables at temples and mutts for bhandara. The service is for people, majority of whom have come from rural areas.”
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The influx of visitors from outside Ayodhya is also giving good business to local shopkeepers selling photos of Lord Ram, Hanuman, saffron flags and other religious items.
“The is huge demand for the table-top model of Ram Temple, T-shirt, stole, key-ring and small flags that people are taking back home from our shops,” said Anand Gupta, one of the shopkeepers on the Hanuman Garhi road, the 1-km market stretch packed with visitors.
Such is the fervour that people click selfies standing in front of temples and make videos amid chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’. A special band performance was organised at the entrance of Hanuman Garhi temple while chief minister Yogi Adityanath visited the temple and offered prayers here on Friday.
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“Earlier, business in Ayodhya was dependent on Ram Navami, Sawan, and Kartik melas. But with the announcement of consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla, religious fervour gained momentum since January 1. We hope, footfall of visitors will go up further in coming weeks,” said a shopkeeper. Shops on the entire stretch have been painted in the same colour to maintain a consistent look and showcase its rich heritage.
Rajesh Kumar Singh is Assistant Editor, Hindustan Times, at the political bureau in Lucknow. An Alumnus of Ramjas College, Delhi and the University of Delhi, he has covered politics in the Hindi heartland Uttar Pradesh and Bihar for three decades and has written extensively on Dalit and OBC politics. He travelled across Uttar Pradesh to cover the panchayat, assembly and Lok Sabha elections. Along with writing on development issues, governance and public policy has done crime reporting, including Maoist activities in Bihar as well as activities of gangsters in East Uttar Pradesh, Jungle Party gang active on UP- Bihar border, dacoit gangs in Bundelkhand region and Sand Mafia active in various districts of UP. Has done investigations and reporting exposing multi-crore NRHM scam in UP, Nutrition scam, Medicine supply scam, irregularities in the flood management projects, weapon smuggling and human trafficking on Indo- Nepal border. He highlighted the deaths of children due to encephalitis in the districts of East Uttar Pradesh; the central and state government took cognisance of the report to launch schemes to check deaths and improve the facilities in the health centres and hospitals. He also reported on the social issues in East Uttar Pradesh and Bundelkhand- migration, farming crisis, water crisis, plight of the deprived communities- Musahar, Vantongiyas, Sahariya and Kol communities. He covers state government departments. He also travels to write human-interest stories and in-depth stories from the ground in the Bundelkhand, Purvanchal, and Rohilkhand regions of Uttar Pradesh.
Gaurav Saigal has over two decades of experience in reporting on public policy, governance, politics, and social issues and extensively covers developments in Uttar Pradesh, including state politics, government policies, infrastructure, the economy, environmental issues, and public administration. He has worked across locations and worked with various media organisations. He has travelled across the state for news reporting. He produces fact-based, balanced, and insightful reports that explain the impact of policy decisions on citizens. He has reported on a wide range of significant stories, from legislative proceedings and elections to development projects, wildlife conservation, and governance reforms. His coverage reflects a strong understanding of regional affairs and a commitment to delivering accurate, timely, and well-researched journalism. His articles regularly provide readers with context and analysis on key issues shaping Uttar Pradesh and the nation. He is consistent in field reporting and in-depth coverage of public affairs. His journalism is characterised by clarity, credibility, and a focus on issues of public interest. His coverage reflects a strong understanding of regional affairs and a commitment to delivering accurate, timely, and well-researched journalism. His content is characterised by an emphasis on factual reporting, official data, and policy analysis, often explaining the impact of government decisions on citizens and institutions.
