The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya has entered Phase 2 of its grand Pran Pratishtha ceremony, with rituals starting on June 3 and continuing through June 5. As a precursor to this sacred event, a grand Kalash Yatra was flagged off from the banks of the Saryu River on Monday evening, moving through key city points such as Veena Chowk, Ram Path, Singar Haat and Rang Mahal Barrier before reaching the temple premises.
The temple town has been placed on high alert, with elite commandos from the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Special Task Force (STF), and local police units deployed across the area. Ayodhya has been declared a red zone, and surveillance is being maintained round-the-clock in three shifts to ensure a peaceful and orderly celebration. Security inspections and preparations have been conducted at multiple locations surrounding the temple complex.
Rituals on June 3 and 4 will include elaborate fire offerings (havan) and the chanting of 1,975 sacred mantras. Devotional hymns such as the Ram Raksha Stotra and Hanuman Chalisa will be recited between 6.30 am and 6.30 pm, creating a spiritual ambiance throughout the temple area. The main consecration of idols — including those of Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, Lord Lakshman and Lord Hanuman — will take place on June 5, aligning with the auspicious occasion of Ganga Dussehra. In addition to the main sanctum, six other temples within the complex will also witness idol consecration ceremonies.
Champat Rai, Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, has urged devotees not to travel to Ayodhya solely based on media reports of the rituals. He emphasized that the events are not open to the general public and that no invitations have been issued for the June 3 to 5 period. While the main temple remains accessible for darshan of Ram Lalla, the Ram Darbar and adjacent temples on the first floor are still under construction and currently closed to devotees.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is set to attend several important events during the three-day observance, including the main Pran Pratishtha ceremony, the Saryu Trayodashi Utsav, the birthday celebrations of temple trust president Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, and a World Environment Day event. District officials have ensured comprehensive arrangements for devotees, including shaded seating areas, drinking water, sanitation facilities, and availability of ORS sachets. Emergency hospital beds have been reserved in anticipation of large gatherings.
A similar three-day celebration was held in January 2025, marking the first anniversary of the original Pran Pratishtha conducted on January 22, 2024, which was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and witnessed by lakhs of devotees. A significant turnout is again expected this week, as spiritual fervor continues to rise around the consecration of India’s most revered temple.
