Devotees have been celebrating the occasion with a large number of participants since December.
This week, Ayodhya’s Ram temple was dedicated, and a sizable contingent of Indian Americans attended. Community members participated in celebrations at various locations across the nation while chanting bhajans and songs honoring Ram, waving saffron flags, and dressing in traditional Indian attire. A lot of people stayed up late to watch the inauguration from Ayodhya. Some people prepared prasad and performed pooja at home to commemorate the occasion.
Hundreds of devotees lit up Times Square in New York City with enormous images of Lord Ram. The nation’s temples also participated in the worldwide celebration, with over 100 BAPS temples among them. Temples were embellished with lights, diyas, and rangolis that showed the new Ayodhya temple and Shri Ram. There were also elaborate Annakuts and processions as part of the BAPS celebrations.
Anju Kalra is a Somerset, New Jersey-based freelance photographer and amateur DJ who stayed up late to watch the inauguration. She told American Kahani, “I am very proud of the fact that this leadership has had the strength and courage to do what was long needed without being afraid of the vote bank. Finally, this leadership has been able to give Hindus their due.” “There is no question that Ayodhya needs a Ram Mandir; it has brought the nation together across state lines and rekindled a sense of pride and cultural identity that had been eroding in recent years.” “A true secular Indian would rejoice in this historic achievement irrespective of religion […] every faith must be given its own religious freedom and identity without being perceived as divisive or threatening,” the author claims. “This historic achievement would be celebrated by a mosque, church, or Gurudwara.”
The president of the Hindu University of America, Kalyan Viswanathan, stated in a blog post that “Ayodhya is re-emerging from destruction and neglect, epitomising the eternal nature of Sanātana Dharma.” “The city and nearly a billion Hindus worldwide are experiencing immense joy as a result of the consecration at Ram Lalla Mandir after 550 years,” he said.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America has been commemorating the temple’s inauguration with a number of national events since December. Indian American devotees turned out in droves to take part in the celebrations, which included kirtans, exhibits, and public car rallies.
The VHPA prominently displayed the message of the consecration ceremony on more than 40 billboards in ten states prior to the inauguration on January 22. Hindu Parishad of America general secretary Amitabh VW Mittal told ANI, “The resounding message conveyed by these billboards is that Hindu Americans are elated and joyously participating in this once-in-a-lifetime event.” “They are bursting with excitement for the auspicious day of the consecration ceremony.”
