On the eve of the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, renowned lyricist Prasoon Joshi penned a poem, expressing admiration for Lord Ram and capturing the prevailing enthusiasm as the temple is set to be inaugurated on Monday after overcoming all the obstacles,

The poem, titled ‘Janma Safal Ho Raha Hamara,’ beautifully articulates the significance of this moment, portraying how our lives have gained meaning with the imminent arrival of Lord Ram.

It opens with:

‘Dekh rahe hum Ram ko aate, janma safal ho raha hamara,

Prem ashroo chhalkao saare, man darpan dhul raha hamara.

Gagan sun raha hai vandan mein, dhara ruk rahi khadi naman main,

Panch tatva sab thehar gaye hai, ek vinay si hai kan kan mein

Aankhon mein raghuvanshi tara, janma safal ho raha hamara…’

In keeping with the lines of his poem, ‘aisi duji bhakti kahaan hai’, authorities are making final preparations in a decked-up Ayodhya, even as temples across the country and abroad have announced special festivities to mark the occasion.

The pran pratishtha ceremony will begin at 12.20 pm and is expected to end by 1 pm. The prime minister will then address a gathering of more than 7,000 people, including seers and prominent personalities, at the venue.

Lakhs of people are expected to watch the event live on TV and online platforms as BJP-ruled states and Odisha have declared a holiday while the central government has announced a half-day off.

From Washington DC to Paris to Sydney, events have been planned in various parts of the world on January 22. These programmes are either being organised by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) or Hindu diaspora groups in 60 countries.

Fourteen couples from various parts of India will be the “yajmaans” (hosts) for the “Pran Pratishtha”.

The rituals ahead of the consecration ceremony began on January 16, and according to temple trust general secretary Champat Rai, these will end on January 21.

The new 51-inch idol of Ram Lalla, sculpted by Mysuru-based Arun Yogiraj, was placed in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple on Thursday afternoon. The first image of the new idol with eyes covered with a cloth was released on Friday. Rai has said the entry into the temple will be from the east side and exit from the south side.

The entire temple superstructure will eventually be three-storeyed — G+2. Visitors will climb 32 steps from the eastern side to reach the main temple. The temple complex, built in the traditional Nagara style, will be 380 feet long (east-west direction), 250 feet wide and 161 feet high. Each floor of the temple will be 20 feet high and have a total of 392 pillars and 44 gates.

Streetlights on flyovers have been decorated with artworks depicting Lord Ram, including cutouts of bow and arrow, and ornamental lamp posts carry designs themed on the traditional “Ramanandi tilak”.

“Shubh Ghadi Aayi”, “Taiyar hai Ayodhya dham, virajenge Shree Ram” and “Ram fir lautenge”, “Ayodhya me Ram rajya” are among the slogans on posters and hoardings splashed across the city.

Various verses from the Ramayana are also printed on posters at prominent places like the Ram Marg, the Saryu River bank and Lata Mangeshkar Chowk.

On January 22, public sector banks, insurance companies, financial institutions and regional rural banks across the country will also remain closed for half the day. Stock exchanges NSE and BSE have also announced a trading holiday. While more than 7,000 people are in the long list of invitees, the select list features 506 A-listers.

With inputs from agencies.