Ayodhya Ram Mandir's 'dhwajarohan' ceremony today: 5 things to know
What's the story
The Dhwajarohan ceremony, or flag hoisting ceremony, marking the completion of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya, will be held on Tuesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hoist a 22-foot by 11-foot saffron flag atop the temple's 161-foot-high shikhara (spire). The flag features three sacred symbols, namely, Sun, Om and Kovidar tree motifs, hand-embroidered in golden thread. Around 100 tons of flowers were used to beautify Ayodhya for this event. An Aarti will be performed after Modi hoists the flag.
Event details
Ceremony to host 6,000-8,000 invitees
The Dhwajarohan ceremony will be held during the Abhijeet Muhurat, an auspicious time for religious events. The event is expected to be attended by around 6,000 to 8,000 invitees. Notably, many attendees belong to communities that were never invited before but have historical ties with Lord Ram. "They will represent the section with whom Lord Ram shared a meal and used their facilities," Nripendra Mishra, Chairman of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple Construction Committee, told ANI.
Ceremony significance
Dhwajarohan ceremony signifies temple's spiritual activation
The Dhwajarohan ceremony is an important ritual that marks the transition of the temple from a construction site to a fully functional divine abode. Temple trust officials and priests say this ritual spiritually activates the site. The date of the ceremony also holds significance, as it falls on Vivah Panchami, commemorating Lord Ram and Sita's marriage. This date also coincides with Abhijeet Muhurat, which will fall between 11:58am and 1:00pm and represents Lord Ram's birth constellation.
Flag durability
Flag designed to withstand harsh weather conditions
The flag that is to be hoisted at the ceremony was made in over 25 days by a parachute manufacturing company in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. It is made of parachute-grade cloth for durability against harsh weather conditions. The flag can withstand winds up to 60km/h and is supported by a nylon rope and an automatic hoisting system on a rotating pole.