What’s the Ram Mandir flag-hoisting ceremony in Ayodhya that PM Modi is attending?

Ayodhya is gearing up for a momentous day on Tuesday, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads the ‘Dhwajarohan’, a traditional ritual where a sacred flag is hoisted on the main spire of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple.

The Ram temple, which was consecrated in January 2024, has continued to take shape over the past year through different phases of construction. This ceremony marks the official completion of the temple complex.

Modi is expected to attend the event alongside Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. This will also be the Prime Minister’s second trip to the temple since its inauguration last year.

Crowds have already started pouring into Ayodhya ahead of the ceremony. Devotees from various parts of the country have reached the holy town, which has been adorned for the occasion, including floral decorations, with nearly 100 kg of flowers used around the temple, ANI reports.

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VIDEO | Ayodhya is filled with devotion as preparations for the Ram Mandir flag-hoisting ceremony reach their final stage. PM Narendra Modi will hoist a saffron flag atop the temple’s shikhar, marking the completion of its construction. Nearly 6,000 invited guests are expected to… pic.twitter.com/sZWz2eXS1q

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 24, 2025

Here’s a quick look at why the Dhwajarohan matters, and how Ayodhya is getting ready for the ceremony.

All about the ceremonial flag

The sacred flag that will be raised atop the Ram Temple will be 22 feet long and 11 feet wide, and it will sit on a 42-foot pole fixed to the temple’s 161-foot main spire, symbolising the completion of the temple’s construction.

Fitted with a 360-degree rotating mechanism supported by ball bearings, it can withstand wind speeds of up to 60 km per hour without bending or getting damaged.

𝐏𝐌 @narendramodi 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐠 𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐒𝐡𝐫𝐢 𝐑𝐚𝐦 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐦𝐚𝐛𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐢 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐲𝐨𝐝𝐡𝐲𝐚, symbolising completion of temple’s construction.

Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir is beautifully decorated ahead of today’s historic… pic.twitter.com/VhNTMQgs6H

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) November 25, 2025

According to a report in The Print, which cites RSS mouthpiece Organiser, the flag was produced in Ahmedabad by a company that usually manufactures parachutes.

To make sure it lasts through harsh weather, it has been woven using a combination of silk threads and parachute-grade fabric. Its durability standards were finalised after consultations with senior Army officers.

The flag carries three symbolic motifs: Om, the Sun, and the Kovidara tree. As per tradition, the Kovidara tree is believed to be a hybrid of the Mandar and Parijat trees, created by Rishi Kashyap. This reference is often linked to early Indian practices of plant hybridisation.

The Sun emblem represents Lord Ram’s connection to the Suryavanshi dynasty, while Om stands for the primordial cosmic sound.

Indologist Lalit Mishra is credited with uncovering the historical design of this flag. He traced its origins while studying a Mewar-style pictorial Ramayana manuscript, and later found supporting references in the Ayodhya Kand of the Valmiki Ramayana.

Also read: World's first Ramayan wax museum to open in Ayodhya. Here’s all you need to know

Big day in Ayodhya

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has invited around 6,000 to 7,000 people from across Uttar Pradesh for the ceremony. The guest list is a mix of communities, people from different caste groups, families from rural areas, and prominent industrialists who supported the temple project.

According to Trust officials, the ‘shubh muhurat’ for the ritual falls between 11:52 am and 12:35 pm, and the main ceremony will last only about four minutes. Nearly 21 Vedic acharyas will perform the rituals, while volunteers will blow conch shells as part of the traditional welcome, The Print reports.

To make the moment more special, helicopters will shower flower petals over the temple spire as the flag is hoisted.

The date itself holds symbolic meaning. As per tradition, Lord Rama and Sita were married on Panchami, the fifth day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Margashirsha during the Treta Yuga. This year, November 25, falls on the same Panchami, making it an especially auspicious day for the Dhwajarohan ceremony.

#WATCH | Ayodhya | On the flag-hoisting ceremony of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, MLA Abhay Singh says, "Preparations are underway. All the residents of Ayodhya are filled with joy and enthusiasm... Lord Ram flags are flying everywhere... Everyone has thronged the streets to see… pic.twitter.com/M1UrZASLv4

— ANI (@ANI) November 25, 2025

Because of the event, the temple will remain closed for regular darshan and will only allow invited guests. Inside the complex, 15 seating blocks have been created, each named after a respected rishi. A massive 200-ft LED screen will broadcast the ceremony live for attendees.

After the flag hoisting, PM Modi, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath will take part in the puja.

With input from agencies