Car rallies in the US, rath yatras in France: How the world is celebrating opening of Ram Mandir

Excitement is high for the grand consecration ceremony of Lord Ram at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on 22 January. Not only are celebrations taking place in India, but they are also extending to other nations. From the US to France and Australia, events to commemorate the momentous occasion have been scheduled around the globe. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) is organising these activities, or Hindu diaspora groups are undertaking them. In charge of the organisation’s international affairs, VHP joint general secretary Swami Vigyananand stated that the VHP has “direct contacts” with Hindu community organisations in more than 60 nations and has organised events with them, according to Indian Express. He said the events included car rallies, rath yatras, and prabhat pheris, which are marches performed to the tune of bhajans. Moreover, temples throughout several nations will broadcast live footage of the consecration ceremony. Let’s take a closer look. The US There are around a dozen events scheduled to celebrate this significant Pran Pratishtha at Ram Temple in several US cities. Over 300 places will offer live streaming of the event, according to the India Times. On 22 January, devotees in New York will gather at Times Square. The VHP has scheduled a vehicle and bike rally at the Shri Bhakta Anjaneya Temple in Washington, DC, for 20 January.

Our Washington DC Chapter organized a Mini Car Rally to commemorate the inauguration of #ShreeRamMandir in #Ayodhya pic.twitter.com/u4cISMkSPZ

— VHP America (@VHPANews) December 18, 2023

A VHP volunteer from its DC chapter, Animesh Shukla, said on the internet: “On January 20, we are having an amazing event expecting more than 1,000 people there. We want the entire Indian community to come together and celebrate this holy and auspicious occasion, which is going to come only once in lifetime for all of us.” Prasad will be distributed in American temples after 22 January, beginning in Boston. On 14 January, the VHP also arranged a musical light show featuring over 150 Tesla vehicles in Maryland. Set to the melodies of “Jai Shri Ram,” it demonstrated the artistic talent of the Hindu community. Over 40 billboards showing Lord Ram and the Ram Temple have been constructed in over 10 states, including Texas, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, and Georgia, according to CNBC-TV18. France From the Place de la Capelle, an arena in the northern portion of the city, to the famous Eiffel Tower, there will be a Ram Rath Yatra in Paris. Additionally, “chanting of the Shree Ram Dhun, devotional songs, cultural programmes and prasad distribution” would take place at the Eiffel tower as part of this.

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Following a puja and a vishwakalyan yagna, the rath yatra will begin and head to multiple famous Parisian sites, including the Arc de Triomphe, the Musee du Louvre, and Le Republique. Sharing details of the yatra, programme organiser Avinash Mishra posted on X, “We Indians living in France will be joining the historic and momentous occasion of Shri Ram Mandir inauguration in Ayodhya by organising a Ram Rath Yatra across Paris and a large scale celebration at the Eiffel Tower.” The Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust also replied, “It is a blessing for every rambhakt across boundaries to witness the pran pratishtha of Bhagwan Shri Ramlalla Sarkar at his janmshthan in Ayodhya. This cherished moment belongs to rambhakts worldwide, a moment when the hearts of a billion people shall beat as one.” Australia Programmes in Australia will be held at Kingsley Park in Melbourne and Parramatta Park in Western Sydney. The India Times reports that the event will be aired live in over 30 locations. Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and New South Wales are among the other Australian cities where VHP will host activities for the Hindu community. “Around 25 to 50 organisations are collectively organising the programmes in Australia,” Vigyananand said. Africa According to Vigyananand, the VHP was planning a car rally and other events in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Mauritius, Ghana, Nigeria, and Mozambique, among other countries in Africa. Indian Express quoted him as saying, “The VHP is taking the lead. But it has become a programme of the Hindu samaj. This is a historic occasion for the Hindu community. Hindus are connected and their roots are in India. When something happens in India, it has an effect internationally.” On 22 January, the Mauritian government declared a two-hour special break for Hindu public servants, enabling them to take part in regional celebrations honouring Lord Ram’s “Pran Pratishtha” in Ayodhya. Similar celebrations in other countries All Hindus in the nation are being urged by VHP Canada “to enlighten with diyas and decorate their homes with Hanuman Dhwaja (Flag).”

VHP Canada requests all Hindu Canadians to decorate their homes with Hanuman Dhwaja (Flag) & enlighten with diyas! @VHPANews @VHPDigital @VHPSocialMedia @MParandeVHP pic.twitter.com/2H4YA7d0YV

— VHP Canada (@vhpcanada) January 13, 2024

In a post on X, VHP Thailand announced that Nagesh Singh, Ambassador and PR to UNESCAP, Embassy of India, will be present for the historic event to be celebrated at Dev Mandir Bangkok. Buckingham, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Jakarta, and Bali have all scheduled similar events. The consecration ceremony in Ayodhya From Uttar Pradesh’s Pakhawaj to Tamil Nadu’s Mridang, different classical instruments from across the country will be played to celebrate the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony in Ayodhya, the temple trust has said. Champat Rai, general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, said musicians from different parts of India have been selected to perform during the grand function on January 22. Asked about questions raised by many on the ceremony being held in an “incomplete temple,” Rai on Monday told a press conference, “I will not respond to any criticism.” He said the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ at the temple will begin at 12:20 pm and is expected to be completed by 1 pm. The ceremony will take place in the august presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat, Uttar Pradesh governor Anandiben Patel, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and the president of the temple trust Mahant Nritya Gopal Das. Seating arrangements have been made for around 8,000 people, he added. With inputs from agencies