Hindus across India are celebrating Ram Navami, a holy festival marking the birth of Lord Rama, the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu. This year holds particular significance as it’s the first Ram Navami since the grand opening of the Ram Mandir temple in Ayodhya on January 22rd.
The newly built Ram Mandir boasts a unique scientific marvel – a system designed to bathe the idol of Ram Lalla in sunlight, creating a “Surya Tilak” on his forehead every Ram Navami from here on out.
In Ayodhya, Lord Rama’s birthplace, preparations are in full swing to ensure the sun directly illuminates the idol during the midday “Surya Abhishek” ceremony. As the ongoing Ram Navami Mela, expected to draw over 2.5 million devotees since April 9th, continues, tight security measures with a large police presence have been enforced.
Today, all eyes are on Ayodhya for the much-anticipated Surya Tilak ceremony of Ram Lalla. Scheduled for around noon, this celestial event will see the sun’s rays form a 75mm “tilak” on Ram Lalla’s forehead, a sight expected to last for four minutes.
