Temples across U.S. gear up for Ram Mandir festivities

Temples across the US prepare to celebrate the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, with various events and festivities.

Hundreds of temples dotted across the United States are gearing up to celebrate the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya next week, with thousands of Indian Americans likely to attend a series of events beginning this week.

“Ayodhya is re-emerging from destruction and neglect, epitomising the eternal nature of Sanātana Dharma. The upcoming consecration at Ram Lalla Mandir after 550 years is bringing immense joy to the city and nearly a billion Hindus across the world,” Kalyan Viswanathan, president of the Hindu University of America said in a blog post.

The consecration ceremony at the Ayodhya temple wiil be held on January 22.

The construction of Lord Ram’s temple at Ayodhya Dham, after a wait of 500 years, marks an important day of faith and celebration for Hindus worldwide said Kapil Sharma from the Shri Sita Ram Foundation in Texas, which has organised Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Pran Pratishtha celebration at its temple in Houston.

The celebration will begin with the Sundarkand, followed by cultural programmes of dance, singing, and music. This will be followed by a havan and Lord Ram’s Pattabhishek, culminating in a procession of Lord Ram and prasad (food) distribution. “We are also honoured to distribute prasad and raj (holy dust) from Ayodhya Dham, which is being flown in especially for our event,” Sharma said.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore is scheduled to attend a Ram Mandir celebration event in a suburb of Washington DC on Saturday. A few Pakistani Americans are also joining festivities in the Greater Washington DC area.

“The long-awaited dream of millions of followers of Lord Sri Rama is about to become a reality,” said Amitabh Mittal from Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, the organisation which is leading the nationwide festivities in the United States. There are around 1,000 temples in the US, and almost all of them are having celebrations, beginning this weekend, to commemorate the historic occasion.