Ayodhya Ram Mandir: Odisha swept by electrifying  wave of devotion to Lord Ram 

A strong wave of devotion and spirituality swept across the country as the Pran Patishtha of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya was solemnised on Monday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and scores of dignitaries from various fields. 

In Odisha, common people from all walks of life and leaders irrespective of their party lines were excited and swayed by devotion towards Lord Ram. They celebrated it with religious enthusiasm. Thousands of devotees lit up lamps at Srimandir in Puri.

Sanatan Nanda, a Kar Sevak in Nilagiri area of Balasore was overjoyed to see the consecration ceremony on TV at his house. He was jailed for 13 days for doing ‘Kar Seva’ at Ayodhya. His eyes were welled up with tears of joy for the ‘return of Lord Ram’ to his new abode. “My life was blessed after seeing my Prabhu,” he said in a choked voice.

Children attired in different characters of the Ramayana merrily moved about near Ram Mandir in Bhubaneswar amid an electrifying atmosphere of devotion, while the Vishva Hindu Parishad organised Yajna at the temple.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik reportedly watched the consecration ceremony of Ram Mandir on TV screen.

On the occasion, a yajna was solemnized at Daria Ramchandi shrine in Mahakalpara of Kendrapara on Monday. National Vice President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Baijayant Panda attended the programme and offered prayer to the goddess.

The BJP stalwart along with hundreds of devotees watched the direct telecast of the Pran Patishtha programme on the premises of the shrine where a mass prayer and Bhajan-Kirtan programme were held earlier. He also had darshan of Lord Shiva at Kharinasi Shiva temple.     

Speaking to media, Baijayant Panda said, “All you know Prime Minister Modiji emphasized on Ramarajya for the country. The concept of Ramarajya is there in the Constitution and Mahatma Gandhi dreamed of Ramarajya. This aim had not been achieved over decades. Now the country is on the right track.”

Similarly, BJP leader and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan gleefully watched the direct telecast of the consecration ceremony on the premises of Balunkeswar temple in Salipur of Cuttack. Earlier in the day, the Union Education Minister offered prayer at Ram Mandir in Bhubaneswar.

“Bharat was waiting for the auspicious moment for centuries. The entire country was deep in devotion to Lord Ram. The country saw an unprecedented renaissance of spirituality,” Pradhan observed. 

Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi led a big rally from Sishu Bhawan Chhak to Ram Mandir Chhak as part of celebrations of the Pran Pratishtha of Lord Ram in Ayodhya. Waxing eloquently on the Pran Pratishtha, the MP said, “It is a historic day for all of us. The temple for Ram Lalla was established. All Indians are thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”