Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) [India], November 25 : Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak on Tuesday expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the flag-hoisting ceremony at the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, saying that the world will witness the "peak of Sanatan culture" during the event.
As the ceremony will mark the completion of the construction of the Ram Temple, Pathak termed it a culmination of years of struggle.
He told ANI, "PM Modi is arriving here today, all of us in UP are excited. The world will witness the peak of Sanatan culture today when Dhwajarohan will be done. This is the culmination of thousands of years of struggle. This was awaited for years. I express gratitude to the PM. This is an auspicious day."
Earlier today, PM Modi held a roadshow in Ayodhya ahead of the ceremony.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hoist the sacred flag atop the 191-foot-high shikhara of the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi Temple during a special flag-hoisting ceremony today.
At around noon, the Prime Minister will ceremonially hoist a saffron flag on the Shikhar of the temple, symbolising the completion of the temple's construction. The Prime Minister will also address the gathering on this occasion.
Hanuman Garhi temple priest Mahant Raju Das expressed joy ahead of the ceremony and said that Sanatan preaches harmony among living beings and the welfare of the world.
He said, "The saffron flag will be hoisted on the Shikhar today under the leadership of the Prime Minister, CM of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath and RSS Mohan Bhagwat. Sanatan teaches the victory of Dharma, the destruction of Adharma, harmony among living beings, and the welfare of the world. The Dharma Sanatan preaches 'Sarva Bhavatu Sukhinah, Sarvasantu Niramay'."
"When Ram Lalla was in the tent, and Yogi Adityanath brought him to the alternative temple, people were crying, wondering when the temple would be built. When the temple was built, people were eagerly wondering when the grand temple would be built, and today, when the grand temple has been built, the Prime Minister is hoisting the flag for the construction of that grand temple. We are excited," the priest added.
Meanwhile, a Bhandara (community meal) has also been arranged for the police personnel and the security forces deployed for the security management and the devotees in Ayodhya today.
Maniram, an organiser of the Bhandara, said that they have prepared food for 10,000 people in the general public, and they're distributing 5000 packets for the administration.
He said, "This is the Amavas Ram Temple. Here, after taking darshan at the Ram Temple, we provide completely free food prasad. This was a new initiative by Acharya Kishore Kunal ji at Patna Mahavir Hanuman Ji Temple. We will continue to serve prasad here three times a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Food prasad is available from 8 am to 10 am, from 11 am to 3 pm and from 7 pm to 9 pm. Right now, we've cooked food for 10,000 people for the general public, and we're distributing 5000 packets for the administration. It will continue every day."
The 'Dharma Dhwaj' carries three sacred symbols, Om, the Sun and the Kovidara tree, each representing profound spiritual values rooted in the Sanatan tradition.
The Kovidar tree is a hybrid of the Mandar and Parijat trees, created by Rishi Kashyap, showcasing ancient plant hybridisation. The Sun represents Lord Ram's Suryavansh lineage, and Om is the eternal spiritual sound.
Hoisting of the flag to coincide with the Abhijit Muhurat of Shri Ram and Maa Sita's Vivah Panchami.