Ram Mandir’s pran pratishtha begins. A look at the rituals over the next seven days

The final countdown before the big day has begun. Preparations are in full swing for the historic consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, scheduled for 22 January. And from today (16 January), a set of pre-pran pratishtha rituals have begun. These rites will be conducted right until 22 January, the day when the formal opening of the temple will take place in the presence of over 7,000 guests from all over the country. This includes Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as celebrities such as Amitabh Bachchan and Alia Bhatt, and sportspersons like Virat Kohli, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar. As we gear up for the grand ceremony, here’s a better understanding of all that will take place from today until 22 January. Schedule of pre-Pran Pratishtha rituals On 16 January, the rituals will begin. On this day, the host appointed by the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra, the Ram Mandir temple trust, will conduct the atonement ceremony, which features the ‘Dashvidh’ bath, Vishnu worship and the offering to cows along the Saryu River. The following day, 17 January, would mark the arrival of the selected idol at the Ram Mandir. This will be done after a procession carrying the Ram Lalla idol will be carried out through Ayodhya. On the same day, devotees carrying Saryu water in the Mangal Kalash will also reach the Ram Janmabhoomi temple. After the idol, which has now been confirmed to be the one sculpted by Arun Yogiraj , is brought to the temple, formal rituals begin. On the third day, Thursday (18 January), sacred ceremonies such as the Ganesh Ambika Puja, Varun Puja, Matrika Puja, Brahmin Varan, and Vastu Pujan will be conducted. Each of these rituals hold cultural and religious significance, contributing to the sanctity of the overall ceremony. On this day, the Ram Lalla idol will also be placed at its ‘aasan’ in ‘garbh griha’. [caption id=“attachment_13618952” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Devotees with a 108-ft long incense stick (dhoop-batti) brought from Vadodara in Gujarat ahead of the Ram Mandir ‘Pran Pratishthan’ programme, in Ayodhya district. PTI[/caption] Following these ceremonies, on the fourth day, 19 January, a holy fire will be lit inside the Ram Mandir. It will be on the fifth day, 20 January, that the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram Mandir will be washed with the holy water of Saryu, and rituals such as Vaastu Shanti and Annadhivas will be performed. And a day before the final event, the deity of Ram Lalla will be given a divine bath with 125 urns and the ritual of Shayadhivas will be observed. **Also read: Luxury hotels, revamped roads... How Ram Mandir event is transforming Ayodhya** The pran pratishtha ceremony On 22 January, the historic and religiously significant pran pratishtha ceremony will be held at the Ram Mandir in the presence of VVIPs and devotees. The rituals will take place from 12.20 pm to 1 pm and it is then that the deity of Ram Lalla will be consecrated. For the unaware, the pran pratishtha ceremony is when the idol turns into a deity, which, in turn, can accept prayers and grant boons to worshippers. It’s a very important step in the consecration. As part of the pran pratishtha ceremony, the idol will be placed in the sanctum sanctorum in the eastward direction. And following this, comes the final stage, which is opening the eyes of the statue. [caption id=“attachment_13618972” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Sindhu Sena activists with a child dressed as Lord Ram show kites depicting pictures of Ayodhya’s Ram Temple before their distribution in Bhopal ahead of the historic opening of the Ram Temple. PTI[/caption] According to an Indian Express report, the ceremony includes the application of anjan – similar to kohli – around the deity’s eyes, with a gold needle. This process is carried out from behind, as it is believed that if one looks into God’s eyes the moment they open, their brilliance can be too much to take. It is only after this that the idol is believed to have been brought to life and can be prayed to. **Also read: How Ram Temple in Ayodhya will have features from across the country** What to expect after pran pratishtha ceremony According to the temple trust, following the pran pratishtha ceremony, which is to be inclusive, all the witnesses will have darshan. It’s also important to note that the temple will be closed for devotees on 21 and 22 January and will be open to the public the next day, 23 January. The historic Ram Mandir inauguration will also see grand celebrations not only in India, but across the world . In the United States, car rallies will be held to commemorate the event. Moreover, the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla will not just be livestreamed in various India embassies overseas but also at the Times Square in New York. There’s also a Ram Rath Yatra in Paris from Place de La Chapelle around 12.30 pm and culminate at Place de Trocadero around 3 pm. With inputs from agencies