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As excitement builds in India for the impending opening of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, this month, Indian expatriates in the United States orchestrated a car rally in Edison, New Jersey. The event saw over 350 cars taking part, with visuals revealing members of the Hindu community proudly displaying flags adorned with images of Lord Ram, while numerous cars formed a procession on the streets.
As the world gears up for the upcoming ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, extensive festivities and commemorations are taking place globally. Giant billboards featuring Lord Ram and the grand shrine have adorned more than 10 states, spanning thousands of miles away in the United States.
In collaboration with Hindus from various parts of the United States, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) US chapter has erected over 40 billboards across 10 states and beyond. These billboards convey the message surrounding the significant ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony scheduled for January 22 at the birthplace of Shri Ram Lalla in Ayodhya.
The billboards have been installed in Texas, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, and Georgia, among other states. Furthermore, Arizona and the State of Missouri are poised to become part of this visual celebration starting Monday, January 15, as announced by the VHP American chapter.
Amitabh VW Mittal, General Secretary of the Hindu Parishad of America, expressed that the billboards send a powerful message, indicating the excitement and jubilation of Hindu Americans as they actively engage in this rare and momentous occasion. Their emotions brim with anticipation for the auspicious day of the consecration ceremony.
Teja A Shah, Joint General Secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, America chapter, shared the exuberance within the Hindu community in New Jersey. They are eagerly looking forward to the upcoming Car Rally, Exhibition, Curtain Raiser, Billboards across New York and New Jersey, and the grand celebration scheduled for the night of the 21st. The palpable enthusiasm is evident, with members from Mandirs across NJ eagerly awaiting this exceptional and rare event.
In anticipation of the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Hindu American community in the United States has orchestrated numerous car rallies and planned a series of events leading up to the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony in Ayodhya.
Simultaneously, President of the Mauritius Sanatan Dharm Temples Federation, Bhojraj Ghoorbin, announced that all temples in Mauritius will conduct Ramayan Chanting and celebrate on January 22 to commemorate the Pran Pratishtha of Lord Ram in Ayodhya.
Ghoorbin expressed, “In Mauritius, all our Hindu brothers and sisters are in a different mood nowadays. As from Sankranti, on January 15, all our mandirs in Mauritius are doing the Ramayan chanting. Especially on the 22nd, we are having the same as we used to celebrate Diwali. In Mauritius, we are celebrating two Diwalis.”
He continued, “The first Diwali is on January 22, and the second Diwali is on October 31. We will do it the same as we all know: after 14 years of Vanwas (exile), Prabhu Shri Ram is coming to Ayodhya. So this time, not after 14 years, Prabhu Ram is coming after 500 years.”
President Ghoorbin also shared that a day before the inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, a cultural programme will be held, and Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth will attend the event as the chief guest.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend the ceremonial installation of the idol of Shri Ram Lalla inside the sanctum sanctorum of the grand temple on January 22.
Leaders and dignitaries from various spheres have been invited to the grand temple opening in Ayodhya, which will span seven days starting January 16. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has decided to enthrone Ram Lalla at the sanctum-sanctorum of the Ram Temple at noon on January 22.
Vedic rituals for the Pran-Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya will commence on January 16, a week before the main ceremony.
In a recent event at the US Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, Indian envoy Taranjit Singh Sandhu highlighted the universality of the Ramayan, stating that it serves as a bridge across geographies. He emphasized its teachings on human relationships, governance, spirituality, duty, justice, sacrifice, loyalty, and the eternal struggle between good and evil.
