Historic Flag Hoisting Ceremony at Ayodhya Ram Mandir
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to preside over a landmark ceremony at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya today, where he will hoist a specially crafted saffron flag atop the sacred structure. This momentous event marks the completion of the temple complex and occurs on the auspicious occasion of Vivah Panchami, celebrating the wedding anniversary of Lord Ram and Goddess Sita.
The Sacred Flag and Ceremony Details
The ceremonial flag, measuring 22 feet in length and 11 feet in width, has been meticulously designed to crown the temple's peak. Created by a parachute expert from Ahmedabad following Defense Ministry specifications, the flag weighs between two to three kilograms and has been tailored specifically for the 161-foot temple peak and 42-foot flagpole.
Prime Minister Modi will perform the flag hoisting during the auspicious time window between 11:52 am and 12:35 pm. Following the ceremony, he will tour various sections of the temple complex, including seven temples, and participate in an aarti. The Prime Minister may also address devotees gathered for this historic occasion.
Historical Significance and Temple Journey
Today's ceremony holds profound historical importance as it represents the first time the flag of the Ayodhya dynasty will fly at the Ram Temple since the Treta Yug era. The flag's design, created by Vaishnav saints after extensive scriptural study, features distinctive symbolic elements. The saffron color represents sacrifice, while the Sun image signifies Lord Ram's Suryavanshi lineage.
The journey to this moment began with the Supreme Court's landmark verdict in 2019 that paved the way for temple construction. Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone on August 5, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The temple's first phase was completed and inaugurated on January 22, 2024, with the Pran Pratishtha ceremony. Less than two years later, all major construction works within the temple complex have been finalized.
Public Participation and Arrangements
Ayodhya authorities have made extensive arrangements to accommodate the massive public interest in the ceremony. Recognizing that the venue cannot accommodate all devotees, the district administration has installed more than 50 LED screens at strategic locations across the city, tehsils, and blocks for live viewing.
District Information Officer Santosh Dwivedi confirmed that LED walls and vans are being deployed to ensure residents can witness the historic ceremony in real time. This comprehensive telecast arrangement demonstrates the widespread significance of this event for devotees across the region and beyond.
The Dhwajarohan Utsav represents the culmination of a centuries-old aspiration and marks a new chapter in Ayodhya's spiritual landscape, with the temple complex now standing complete as a testament to faith and perseverance.
