Ayodhya is about to go down in history with the much awaited “Pran Pratishtha” of Shri Ram Lalla on Monday. On Monday, January 22, Paush Shukla Kurma Dwadashi, Vikram Samvat 2080, is the day of Ram Lalla’s “Pran Pratistha.” Following the classical traditions, a seven-day ritual began on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, as part of the ceremonial journey leading up to the Pran Pratishtha. On January 16, Anil Mishra, one of the trustees of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, performed the atonement ceremony, which included a “purifying bath” in the river Sarayu.
Worshiping Lord Vishnu and offering Panchgavya, ghee, and Panchgavyaprashan were among the rituals. The ‘Dashdaan’ was celebrated with a ‘Karmakuti Homa’. The chief Acharya overseeing Pran Pratishtha, Laxmikant Dixit, presided over the atonement ceremony. Both before the big day and during the atonement ceremony, the Valmiki Ramayana and Bhusundiramayana were recited. Day 2 of the events began on January 17 with a “Jalayatra,” a procession that carried the idol of Ram Lalla to the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya across the Sarayu River in a Mangal Kalash.
The third day began with Ganeshambika puja followed by around 15 different rituals including Varun puja, Chaturvedokta Punyahvachan, Vastu puja and Nandishraddha.
Day 4 started with Ganpati puja. The establishing of ‘agni’ manifested through ‘Arnimanthan’ in the ‘Navkunds’ was conducted among other pujas. A ‘havan’ was also performed along with a recitation of ‘Veda’ and Ramayana.
Rituals with sugar and fruits, along with daily prayers and Havan were carried out on the fifth day.
Day 6 will witness Havan and daily worship of the established deities and the divine bathing of the idol with sacred water from 114 Kalash and eventually laid to rest ahead of the grand Pran Pratishtha.