Chandigarh sees surge in demand for Lord Ram flags ahead of Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya

Chandigarh has experienced a surge in the demand for saffron flags featuring images of Shri Ram and Hanuman, fueled by the anticipation surrounding the Pran Pratistha ceremony in Ayodhya on January 22. This enthusiasm is not limited to Chandigarh, as people across India are decorating their vehicles with these flags. Local shops near Chandigarh’s temples are witnessing a bustling crowd eager to obtain these symbolic emblems, even in the cold weather.

Flag seller Lalta Kumar Pandey acknowledged the remarkable demand, stating, “People have a great demand for these flags, and a lot of crowd is being seen for these flags even in the cold season.” He added that the prices range from Rs500 to Rs200.

Simultaneously, Ayodhya is gearing up for the much-anticipated ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Shri Ram Lalla on January 22, marking a historic event. The ceremony is scheduled for Paush Shukla Kurma Dwadashi, Vikram Samvat 2080, falling on Monday. The ceremonial journey leading to the Pran Pratishtha began with a seven-day ritual on January 16, 2024, adhering to classical traditions.

On January 19, the idol of Shri Ram Lalla, crafted by renowned Mysuru sculptor Arun Yogiraj, was placed inside the temple’s sanctum sanctorum. During the placement ceremony, the idol, covered with a veil, had its first photo revealed on Thursday. Various purported images of the idol, showing uncovered eyes, circulated on social media. However, Acharya Satyendra Das, the chief priest of Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Temple, clarified that these images were not of the real idols. He emphasized that, according to their beliefs, the idol’s eyes cannot be revealed before the completion of the ‘Pran Pratishtha.’ The seer assured that all procedures and rituals would follow their scriptures and beliefs, and the eyes of Ram Lalla would remain concealed until the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ is concluded.