Ram Navami celebrated on low-key note in Ayodhya
LUCKNOW : The festive occasion of Ram Navami was celebrated in a low-key manner at the Ram Janmabhoomi complex and elsewhere in Ayodhya on Wednesday in view of the surge in Covid-19 cases across the state and the country.
The entry of all devotees — locals and outsiders — was banned at the Ram Janmabhoomi complex where the priests decorated the idols of Ram Lalla (the child Ram) and his brothers Bharat, Lakshman and Shatrughan with golden crowns at the prefabricated Ram temple.
Acharya Satyendra Das, head priest of Ram Janmabhoomi, performed all the Vedic rituals on the occasion. In accordance with the Hindu calendar, the birth of Lord Ram was celebrated at noon at Ram Janmabhoomi.
“All Vedic rituals were performed at Ram Janmabhoomi. The birth of Lord Ram was celebrated, but no devotee was allowed to enter Ram Janmabhoomi,” said Champat Rai, general secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
“The Trust had decided to ban the entry of both locals and outsiders due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” Rai added.
Donated by Sharad Babu of Hyderabad, a model of the Ram temple made of wood — eight feet long, five feet in breadth and three feet high — was also placed at Ram Janmabhoomi as was a seven-feethigh idol of Lord Ram donated by Prabhat Murti Kala Kendra of Gwalior.
Devotees were also denied entry at all other temples in Ayodhya, including the Bedi Dev Kali temple, the clan deity of Lord Ram, the Choti Dev Kali temple and Kanak Bhawan, where Lord Ram’s birthday celebrations usually attract a large number of worshippers.
Barricades were placed at all entry points to Ayodhya and those seeking to enter the pilgrim town were asked to show
their Covid-19 test reports.
The Navratri Mela scheduled from Wednesday has also been cancelled due to the pandemic.
It is a major annual event in Ayodhya attended by several lakh people from the adjoining areas.
In view of the increasing
cases of Covid-19, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad has already cancelled the 84-Kosi Parikrama which was scheduled from April 27.
This annual event, otherwise, witnesses the participation of a large number of saints and devotees from across the country.
The parikrama is taken out by the VHP every year under the banner of Hanuman Mandal, Ayodhya.
During Navratri last year (March 25 to April 2), temples in Ayodhya were closed due to the nationwide lockdown imposed to fight Covid-19.