Lucknow: Ayodhya was immersed in devotion and joy on Friday on Ram Navami as the auspicious occasion was celebrated with a ‘Surya Tilak’ of Ram Lalla at the Ram Janmabhoomi temple. According to officials, around 35 lakh devotees reached Ayodhya in two days.As the moment of Lord Ram’s birth was celebrated, the air resonated with devotional song ‘Bhaye pragat kripala’ and chants hailing Lord Ram. At 12noon, golden rays of the sun, directed through a scientific arrangement, entered the sanctum sanctorum and illuminated Ram Lalla’s forehead for four minutes.This moment symbolised a remarkable confluence of faith and modern science. Lakhs of devotees witnessed ‘Surya Tilak’ in Ayodhya while others watched via live broadcasts.The Ram temple was beautifully decorated with flowers, lights and colourful garlands. Since morning, the premises echoed with Vedic chants, ‘bhajans’ and ‘aartis’. Ram Lalla was ceremonially given a bath, and the ‘Surya Tilak’ event followed the celebration of Lord Ram’s birth.A massive crowd of devotees gathered in Ayodhya and areas like Ram Path and Saryu Ghats witnessed huge footfall.Community feasts were organized where around 5 quintals of ‘prasad’ from Mathura was distributed among devotees.Ram Lalla was offered ‘chhappan bhog’. Celebrations were held across Ayodhya, including Dashrath Mahal, Kanak Bhawan and Hanuman Garhi. Around 8,000 temples hosted special prayers, ‘kirtans’ and ‘satsang’.Elaborate security arrangements were in place for the festival. Ayodhya was divided into zones and sectors, with traffic plans, drone surveillance, anti-drone systems and additional police deployment ensuring smooth crowd management.Divine light of ‘surya tilak’ will guide India to devpt: CMSharing an emotional message on social media on Ram Navami, chief minister Yogi Adityanath said, “The golden ‘surya tilak’ adorning the divine forehead of Ram Lalla is a radiant symbol of faith, pride and spirituality. It awakens the eternal consciousness of Sanatan culture and ignites devotion, strength and self-respect in every heart.”“It reconnects India with its true essence. The divine light of this Surya Tilak will guide the resolve of a ‘Developed and self-reliant India’. Where there is Ram, there is the path, and there India shines brightly. Jai Shri Ram,” he said.
