The grand spectacle of the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony, marking the consecration of the Ram Lalla idol at Ayodhya’s majestic temple, is scheduled for Monday, January 22. This auspicious event draws a multitude of VVIPs, including luminaries from various fields such as film stars, cricketers, industrialists, artists, ministers, and religious leaders. Leading this distinguished congregation is Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will oversee the sacred ceremony.
The Pinnacle Moment: ‘Pran Pratishtha’ Ceremony Details
Lakshmi Kant Dixit, a revered priest from Varanasi, will conduct the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony at 12:20 pm. The 51-inch tall Ram Lalla idol, a masterpiece crafted by Mysuru-based sculptor Arun Yogiraj, boasts intricate carvings featuring all ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu, along with revered Hindu deities like Lord Hanuman. The consecration rituals commenced on January 16, extending over seven days.
Star-Studded Presence: VVIPs and Celebrities at the Ayodhya Event
Sporting Icons: In the Heart of Ayodhya
Present at Ayodhya:
- Virat Kohli (Cricketer and former India captain)
- Anil Kumble (Former India cricketer and captain)
- Venkatesh Pradesh (Former India fast bowler)
- Sachin Tendulkar (Indian cricket legend)
- Saina Nehwal (Badminton player)
Invited:
- MS Dhoni (Former India cricketer and captain)
- R Ashwin (India spin bowler)
- Mithali Raj (Former India women cricketer)
- Neeraj Chopra (Javelin thrower and Olympic gold winner)
- PV Sindhu (Badminton player and Olympic medal winner)
Bollywood Glitterati: Ayodhya Beckons
Present at Ayodhya:
- Rajinikanth (Superstar actor)
- Anupam Kher (Actor)
- Kangana Ranaut (Film star and national award winner)
- Vivek Oberoi (Actor)
- Shefali Shah (Actress)
- Randeep Hooda (Actor)
- Amitabh Bachchan (Superstar actor)
- Abhishek Bachchan (Actor)
Invited:
- Ranbir Kapoor (Actor)
- Alia Bhatt (Actress and national awardee)
- Ayushmann Khurrana (Actor)
- Tiger Shroff (Actor)
- Vicky Kaushal (Actor)
- Katrina Kaif (Actress)
- Akshay Kumar (Actor)
- Chiranjeevi (Superstar actor)
- Ajay Devgn (Actor)
- Sunny Deol (Actor)
Political Leaders: A Blend of Power and Devotion
Present at Ayodhya:
- Hema Malini (BJP leader and actress)
- Yogi Adityanath (Uttar Pradesh CM)
Invited:
- Meera Kumar (Former Lok Sabha speaker)
- Droupadi Murmu (President of India)
- Akhilesh Yadav (President of Samajwadi Party)
- LK Advani (BJP veteran)
- Uddhav Thackeray (former CM of Maharashtra)
Spiritual Guides and Sages: Blessings in Abundance
Present at Ayodhya:
- Bageshwar Dham’s Dhirendra Shastri (Religious Guru)
- Baba Ramdev (Yoga Guru)
- Jagadguru Rambhadracharya (Religious Guru)
Invited:
- Sadhguru (Spiritual Guru)
- Dalai Lama (Religious Guru)
Other Distinguished Guests: Adding Flair to the Occasion
Present at Ayodhya:
- Prasoon Joshi (Indian poet, lyricist, and writer)
- Sonu Nigam (Singer)
- Madhur Bhandarkar (Filmmaker)
- Anu Malik (Singer)
- Sanjeev Kapoor (Celebrity chef)
Industry Tycoons: A Blend of Business and Spirituality
Invited:
- Ratan Tata (former chairman of the Tata Group)
- Mukesh Ambani (Chairman of Reliance Industries)
- Anil Ambani (Businessman)
- Kumar Mangalam Birla (Chairperson of Aditya Birla Group)
- Ajay Piramal (Chairperson of Piramal Group)
- Anand Mahindra (Industrialist)
- K Krithivasan (CEO of TCS)
- Gautam Adani (Chairperson of Adani Group)
Amidst the vibrant display of saffron flags, colossal cutouts of Lord Ram, and posters adorned with religious slogans, Ayodhya is ready for this momentous occasion. Rigorous security measures are in place, ensuring a smooth and secure consecration ceremony. Following the event, the doors of the Ram temple will open for devotees and pilgrims starting January 23 for a divine ‘darshan.’
This article is based on information originally published by Hindustan Times and authored by Adarsh Kumar Gupta.
