Homes and temples lit up for ‘bhumi pujan’
Earthen lamps, colourful lights and saffron flags were put at temples in the national capital and chants of “Jai Shri Ram” rent the air as devotees thronged them to perform special puja on the occasion of ground-breaking ceremony for a Ram temple in Ayodhya.
Not only the temples but several houses and housing societies adorned similar look and it seems that Diwali was early for scores of people. The jubilant people who were waiting for this day bursted firecrackers in the evening.
Rakesh Kumar, who was waiting for this day from past three decades, said, “I was 39 when this entire scenario accelerated in 1990s and since then my only dream was to see the grand temple, but never thought that I would be able to see it in my lifetime. For us this is more special day then Deepawali.”
From Hanuman mandir at Kashmiri Gate to Jhandewalan temple, devotees started arriving around 5 am.
“A puja has been going on non-stop for three days. The ‘Ram darbar’ has been decorated. A replica of ‘shila’ (foundation stone) has been prepared and it will be sent to Ayodhya along with other material,” said Kishor Chawla of Chattarpur temple.
Thirty-two pandits performed a special puja amid beating of dholaks and tambourines and recital of bhajans.
Considering the restrictions
due to Covid-19, only a limited number of people are allowed at any given time. A self-dispenser machine has been installed for ‘prasad’ distribution, Chawla said.
Alankar Yadav, a 57-yearold resident of Chattarpur, clapped vigorously as the loudspeakers blared “Ram dhun”. “It’s a dream come true. I am lucky that I am alive to see this day,” he said.
Anukriti Bansal, 41, drove to the temple in the middle of rain to have darshan of ‘Ram lala’.
“I could have watched it on television, but I chose to come here and spend some time listening to ‘Sunderkand’,” she said.
At the Jhandewalan temple in Karol Bagh, people started trickling in as early as 5 am.
Vinod Gandhi, the manager of the temple, said the entire premises has been decorated with colourful lights and recital of the Ramayan has been going on for the last 24 hours.
The staff will distribute special prasad to devotees
after the puja. The temple has also planned a diya lighting event in the evening. There will be fireworks too, its staff said.
Vinod Mishra of the Birla Mandir in central Delhi said the temple had sent its soil to Ayodhya which will be used in the construction of the Ram temple. Saffron flags adorned the walls of the temple and colourful bulbs hung from its dome. Devotees performed puja amid non-stop Ram bhajan and kirtan.
Mr Mishra said the
administration has not allowed large gatherings as per the Covid-19 protocols.
There was a similar atmosphere at Hanuman Mandir which is popularly known as Marghat wale Balaji. Devotees started coming and offered prayer from early morning and chanted Hanuman chalisa and other devotional Bhajans of Lord Ram and his sewak Hanuman.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed the bhoomi pujan’ of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.