The consecration ceremony of Lord Ram’s idol in the Ram Mandir scheduled for January 22 in Ayodhya will be observed as a ‘National Festival.’ The announcement was made by CM Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday. He stated that to honor the emotional connection of the common people with this event, all educational institutions in the state will remain closed on this day. Liquor shops across the state will also be shut.
On Tuesday, Yogi, after visiting the Shri Ram Lalla and Hanuman Garhi in Ayodhya, held a meeting with the officials of the Trust of the pilgrimage site. Following this, the administrative officials reviewed the preparations in the presence of local representatives.
He mentioned that arrangements should be made for the arriving guests in Ayodhya. It’s possible that some guests might arrive a day or two earlier due to weather conditions; hence, arrangements should be made accordingly for their stay. The CM stated that the consecration ceremony is a moment of joy, pride, and contentment for millions of followers of the Sanatan religion. The entire country is in a state of reverence. On the evening of January 22, the festival of lights will be celebrated in all temples. Every follower of Sanatan Dharma will light the ‘Ram Jyoti’ in their homes/institutions to welcome Lord Ram. All government buildings will be decorated. Fireworks will be organized in the evening. The routes from Lucknow, Prayagraj, and Gorakhpur to Ayodhya will be prepared as green corridors. Vehicles will keep moving and won’t be stationary. These routes should be made appealing with verses from Ramayana/Ramcharitmanas. Signage in various languages should also be placed. Sufficient parking and availability of electric buses should be ensured on major routes connected to Ayodhya.
The CM mentioned that a large number of outsiders are currently residing in Ayodhya. While verifying such people, ensure the city’s security. Increase police pickets in Ayodhya. Ayodhya should be a polythene-free city; efforts must be made by everyone towards this. A special cleanliness drive will run from January 14. There should be no litter anywhere. Beautification should be based on the themes of the religious path, birthplace path, path of devotion, and path of Lord Ram. Prepare a digital tourist app this week. People from all over the world will come to Ayodhya.
The behavior of police personnel deployed here will impact the state’s image. Hence, they should be counseled. Maintain regular contact with central security agencies.
Tent City to be Built in 50 Acres
Yogi suggested setting up a grand tent city spanning 25-50 acres in Ayodhya, similar to the Kumbh. In all tent cities, establish health centers with 10 beds each. Ensure the availability of ambulances. Appoint various specialized doctors in Ayodhya. Provide hot water to those staying in tent cities. Ensure the availability of food grains; arrangements by the Food and Market Council should be made. Rain shelters should be organized systematically. The number of these shelters needs to be increased. No person should shiver in the cold during their stay in Dharm Nagari. Necessary arrangements should be made by the Relief Commissioner’s office for this.