Ram Navami is approaching, and Ayodhya is preparing for an influx of devotees. Champat Rai, the General Secretary of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra, revealed that the city anticipates 25-30 lakh visitors. The number of devotees has notably increased, ranging from 1 lakh to 1 lakh 50 thousand, particularly after the Pran Pratishtha ceremony.
The main concern for Ayodhya is its readiness to accommodate such a large crowd. Rai highlighted heat as the major challenge. Despite the availability of water, ensuring food for everyone remains a challenge. Despite the rising numbers, Ayodhya has successfully avoided stampede incidents so far, prompting Rai to advise visitors to stay in groups for safety.
Considering the intense temperatures, Rai encouraged devotees to bring ‘sattu’, a traditional cooling flour, to combat the heat. However, proposals to extend darshan timings during Ram Navami raised logistical concerns, with Rai questioning the feasibility of keeping the temple open for 22 hours.
The revered idol of Ram Lalla, crafted from a rare three-billion-year-old black stone by artisan Arun Yogiraj, underwent its Pran Pratishtha ceremony on January 22, 2024. Rai raised doubts about the practicality of keeping Ram Lalla’s temple open for 24 hours.
