Decked as Kodandapani (one holding a bow), tears roll down my eyes when I look at Sri Rama at Ayodhya!
It was heart-warming and overwhelming to witness the celebrations and events leading up to today’s Prana Prathista of Sri Rama at Ayodhya!
Every piece of architecture, the train service, the meals, tents, layout of various artists, wall murals, amenities to service the temple visitors, the attention to detail in everything, the grand plan around the world, some made by those from Ayodhya, some made by the Government of India, some made by the governments around the world!
Those in India speculated the events in great detail, whereas those around the world took it as an event to celebrate the ultimate event of bringing back Sri Rama to Ayodhya. The dances, singing, bhajans, rangolis, annadanams, travel, jubiliation came together in small pockets, making the events grand celebrations around the world!
Every heart felt the happiness in seeing Sri Rama take his place at Ayodhya! Jai Shri Ram! Colleagues from other cultures around the world enquiring about the progress, uniqueness and details of the event warmed our hearts! Getting an opportunity to share the greatness of Sri Rama.. to someone who is inquisitive to know and learn, how many of us get that opportunity in our lifetime!
The feeling of surrealness changed into witnessing tiny miracles everywhere around, from those who vowed never to watch the program live, or a video, filling social media with pictures of the celebrations with the one common chant Jai Shri Ram! Those who blocked the events, created alternate events at the same time to divert the crowd choosing to allow prayers at schools, observing silence at schools and colleges for the event to take place successfully, chanting Rama Nama Mantra during school prayers unanimously! Think about it.. billions of Hindus and those who have Hindu friends chanting Rama Nama everywhere welcoming Sri Rama to Ayodhya! Tears roll down my eyes when I saw Sri Rama… feel like saying my Sri Rama, whom I pray to, being welcomed all around the world with equal amount of joy and happiness! Where were all these emotions all this while… I do not know! Why did I feel so happy as if this was an event happening in my home… maybe that is what is devotion! Maybe that is what is our culture, and when we see the crowd roar Jai Sri Ram in one voice, cannot stop getting overwhelmed and join!
While some temples conducted Kalyanotsavam, annadanam, tamboolam and distributed akshatas to devotees, some distributed Sri Rama jayam books, some were chanting Hanuman Chalisa non-stop, some were reciting Nama Ramayanam non-stop! It felt no less than a Diwali celebration of Sri Rama finally coming home! Jai Sri Ram!
One man had the determination, and another had the dream and determination to bring him back to Ayodhya! Pranams to both of them!
When my kids said, let us visit Ayodhya in our next trip, I knew this had become a historical milestone that would be remembered by generations to come!