Shri Ram Mandir Inauguration Celebrations: Deepawali in January

The year 2024 has gotten off to a very auspicious start. This is the year when Shri Ram Lalaa is finally coming home to his Mandir in Ayodhya, Bharat. In Treta Yug, he was exiled, fought a fierce battle with asuric (wicked) forces and came home to Ayodhya after 14 years. In Kaliyug, he was imprisoned for over 500 years, fought a long court battle spanning several decades, and is finally coming home to His mandir in Ayodhya. The social media has been abuzz with videos, photos and statements about the great significance of this occasion.

People all over the world are celebrating this auspicious moment. The long awaited Pran Pratishtha (inauguration) ceremony will start on the morning of January 22nd, which translates to late evening of January 21st in New England due to time zone differences.

The Ram Mandir Kshetra Trust has requested all Mandirs across the world to celebrate the moment like another Deepawali. There are some specific guidelines they have suggested, but every Mandir is free to celebrate in whatever manner they choose. The suggested time to celebrate is Jan 21 at 11 PM, as this time coincides with the start of the Pran Pratishtha ceremonies in Ayodhya. Many Hindu temples in the area are already planning special programs on days leading up to the event to mark the occasion. Be sure to check your temple for the timings. Mandirs that have not planned anything yet are requested to please plan their own celebrations. All mandirs are requested to register, and those registering will get prasad directly from Ayodhya. Please register at https://rammandir2024.org/registration/. Registration is free.

If people cannot get to a mandir, they are requested to celebrate it at home. Everyone is requested to light at least five lamps (diyas), do Ram Jaap and sankirtan of “Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram”, sing bhajans, do Aarti and distribute prasad (see the attached flier) as well as watch the live broadcast of the inauguration ceremony

Ramayan has been the cornerstone of life in all the countries across the Indo-Pacific. Many kings in these countries have governed as representatives of Ram, upholding the divine ideals he represented. The Ramayan has influenced various forms of cultural expressions in different countries that reflect the beauty of both distinctive and shared heritage. From Korea, Japan and Cambodia to Malaysia and Indonesia, it transcends language, ethnicity and religion.

For more information, please see the flyer attached. Information can also be obtained by calling Jaya Asthana at 617-513-6887, or Brij Garg at 603-560-5361 (bgarg@ieee.org).

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