Uttarakhand to celebrate 9-day festival from January 14, ahead of Pran Pratishtha ceremony

Before the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya, the Uttarakhand government has directed all district magistrates to organize cultural festivals in the state for nine consecutive days. The festivities are set to begin on January 14 with the Uttarayan festival and conclude on January 22 with the Shri Ram Murti Pran Pratishtha program in Ayodhya.

According to the official order, committees should be formed at the district/development block level to organize Kalash Yatra and tableaux at religious places, ensuring the participation of the public, Mahila Mangal Dal, Yuvak Mangal Dal, and self-help groups. Additionally, a special cleanliness campaign is to be conducted at monasteries, temples, and bathing ghats along the riverbanks in the state. The order emphasizes the involvement of urban bodies, district panchayats, development blocks, gram panchayats, social organizations, self-help groups, Mahila Mangal Dals, Yuvak Mangal Dals, schools, colleges, and public participation.

The directive also specifies that Deepotsav and Aarti should be organized with public participation at major temples, temples, and ghats, and programs such as Ramcharitmanas recitation and bhajan-kirtan should be arranged at religious places.

The Pran Pratishtha ceremony, spanning seven days from January 16, will commence with the atonement ceremony conducted by the host appointed by the temple trust, Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra. On January 17, a procession carrying the idol of Lord Ram in his child-like form (Ram Lalla) will reach Ayodhya, accompanied by devotees carrying Saryu water in Mangal Kalash.

Formal rituals on January 18 will include Ganesh Ambika puja, Varun puja, Matrika puja, Brahmin Varan, and Vastu puja. The holy fire will be lit on January 19, followed by the establishment of ‘Navagraha’ and a ‘havan.’ The sanctum sanctorum of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple will be washed with Saryu water on January 20, followed by Vaastu Shanti and ‘Annadhivas’ rituals.

On January 21, the Ram Lalla idol will be bathed in 125 urns and laid to rest. The final day, January 22, will see the consecration of the deity of Ram Lala in ‘Mrigashira Nakshatra’ in the afternoon following the morning puja.