Ayodhya, April 6: Ayodhya witnessed a grand celebration of Ram Navami as the idol of Ram Lalla was anointed with the rays of the sun during the auspicious Surya Tilak ceremony.
The ritual, which lasted four minutes, was followed by an aarti at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, drawing massive crowds from across the country.
According to officials, over five lakh devotees have already arrived in Ayodhya, leading to kilometre-long queues both inside and outside the Ram temple complex. Earlier in the morning at 9:30 am, Ram Lalla was bathed with Pancha Amrit and adorned with new decorations.
To cope with the soaring temperatures and heavy rush, red carpets were laid out for pilgrims along Ram Marg, Bhakti Marg, Dharam Marg and Ram Janmabhoomi Marg. Drones sprayed Saryu water on devotees to offer relief, and shaded structures were installed at key points to manage the crowd.
“The entire city is immersed in the devotion of Lord Ram,” said a local official. “The grandeur of the temple and the devotion of the people have made this year’s celebration truly historic.”
The Surya Tilak was achieved through a specially designed optical setup involving four lenses and four mirrors that directed sunlight onto Ram Lalla’s forehead.
As chants of Lord Ram echoed throughout the city, thousands continued to gather for darshan. Later in the evening, the celebrations will culminate with a grand Deeputsav along the Saryu river, where over 1.5 lakh diyas are set to be lit.
