Ayodhya's construction of the Ram temple satisfies a decades-old Hindu nationalist commitment. Many Hindus think that the Muslim invaders constructed the Babri mosque on the site of a temple dedicated to the birth of the Hindu god. The 1990s saw the BJP rise to political prominence, in part due to the temple construction campaign. Tens of thousands of chanting Hindu devotees were waving flags and beating drums, while military helicopters were dropping flower petals all over the temple, creating a joyous scene. The city's streets are lined with marigold-decked banners featuring the faces of Mr. Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, as well as saffron flags featuring images of Lord Ram.
Hindus lighted lamps in several other northern cities, and in certain sections of Delhi, saffron flags with images of Ram were flying from roofs. Town squares and residential neighborhoods received views from Ayodhya via large screens, while cinemas showed the ceremony. The ritual, known as Pran Pratishtha (loosely translating to "establishment of life force" from Sanskrit), lasted for approximately sixty minutes. Hindus think that energizing an idol or picture of a deity with sacred life can be achieved by reciting mantras and carrying out rituals near a fire.
Numerous Indian TV channels erected massive structures by the Saryu River, which is a Ganges tributary, directly behind the temple. They broadcast nonstop coverage of the event, with some even declaring that the consecration marked the beginning of "Ram Rajya" (which refers to Lord Ram's rule) in India. In other nations, Hindus also commemorated the inauguration. A group of devotees braved the chilly weather to meet in the middle of the night in Times Square, New York, where massive billboards of Lord Ram were prominently displayed.
The occasion was commemorated at temples spread around the United Kingdom, home to one of the biggest diaspora populations of Indians. Brightly colored posters were circulated, urging followers to commemorate the event, and festivities featured sweets, flowers, and music. There were also some festivities in Dubai, a city with a majority of Muslims and a sizable Indian minority; but, based on Indian news accounts, they were more subdued than in other places.
PM Modi had urged pilgrims to stay home and watch the ritual on television, but thousands of police were still on duty for the event on Monday. Stock exchanges were closed, schools and colleges were shuttered, and holidays of one or two days were declared in states administered by the Bharatiya Janata Party.
