“The divine embrace of Ram Lalla: My euphoric experience of the Pran Prathistha Ceremony in Ayodhya”, The Commune Mag, February 4, 2024:
A birth is a time for celebration. The birth of a king, even more so. How about the birth of a God? Throughout the world, many civilisations have celebrated the birth of their Gods and the places they were born. That is also the story of Bhagavan Shri Rama and his Janmabhoomi (birthplace).
I was blessed with an invitation to the Pran Prathistha on the twenty-second of January. My initial astonishment at this blessing soon gave way to a festive mindset and by the time I started my journey from Chennai, I was in a full-blown celebratory mood. The saffron-clad sadhus who were my co-passengers, the numerous cutouts of Prabhu Rama in public spaces and the auspicious greeting of “Jai Shri Ram” that echoed in all conversations, bloomed a Diwali-like feeling in me. By the time I reached the welcoming arches of Ayodhya in the early hours of the day before the consecration, I was all but shaking with excitement.
As the fog gave way to the morning, the garlanded roads of the city, the bells from early morning darshan, and the smell of sweet tea from roadside chaiwallas greeted me with a joyful energy. Smiles and laughter hung on every single face. String lights and saffron flags hung from every single building. The soulful sounds of bhajans like “Ram Ayenge” reverberated through the air. My heart felt full and my feet light even as I lugged my duffle bag through little side streets to a small guest house; one of many which had opened the previous month in anticipation of the flood of devotees.
Read the full article at Thecommunemag.com
