Guwahati: The Pran Pratishtha, or consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla has rekindled an entire civilization, echoing sentiments of faith, unity, and cultural resurgence, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma observed on Monday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi finished the rituals thousands of kilometers away in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.
"It is a beginning of a new dawn," Sarma said during a live stream of the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla at the Harijan Colony, Fatasil Ambari in Guwahati. The consecration event drew global attention and was celebrated across India and also overseas by the Indian diaspora. The Indian Prime Minister had earlier urged the country to celebrate the occasion akin to Diwali, which is held to mark Lord Ram's return to this home after vanquishing demon king Ravana.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, acknowledging the significance of the day, proclaimed, "January 22, 2024, is not a mere date on the calendar; it is the origin of a new 'kaal chakra.' I thank the Indian judiciary for preserving the dignity of justice." Modi hailed the temple of Lord Ram as an epitome of justice, constructed in a just manner, thanking the judiciary for ensuring the sanctity of the process.
Modi emphasized, "This is a temple of national consciousness in the form of Ram. Lord Ram is India’s faith, foundation, idea, law, consciousness, thinking, prestige, and glory." He expressed a sense of responsibility for the present generation, declaring, "We have to lay the foundation of India for the next one thousand years."
The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Amit Shah, echoed the sentiments, stating that the completion of the consecration fulfills a promise made five centuries ago. "It is an unforgettable day for crores of devotees of Prabhu Shri Ram," Shah remarked, highlighting the patience, sacrifices, and penance that led to this historic moment.
The temple has been built at an estimated cost of Rs 1,800 crore. This journey was initiated over 15 years ago when Assam cabinet minister Ashok Singhal, the former Vishwa Hindu Parishad president, approached Larsen & Toubro (L&T) Chief AM Naik for the temple's construction in Ayodhya. The trust overseeing the project reported spending Rs900 crore between February 5, 2020, and March 31, 2023, according to a PTI report from October last year.
The attire of the Ram Lalla idol is adorned in Banarasi fabric featuring a yellow dhoti and a red pataka or angavastram, which was crafted by a Delhi textile designer, Manish Tripathi. The garments, embellished with pure gold zari and threads, showcase Vaishnav symbols shankh, padma, chakra, and mayur.
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