Ayodhya, March 19: On President Murmu’s arrival in Ayodhya on Thursday, Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed her with a bouquet of flowers at Maharishi Valmiki International Airport. Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak were also present.
Mayor Mahant Girishpati Tripathi greeted the President and presented him with the “Key to the City.” This honor is considered the highest symbolic honor bestowed by the city on a visiting guest. President Draupadi Murmu is visiting Ayodhya for the second time.
The first day of Chaitra Navratri on Thursday, the President Droupadi Murmu installed the Shri Ram Yantra at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Lord Shri Ram’s city Ayodhya on the occasion of Sanatan Nav Samvatsar. This Shri Ram Yantra was installed in the sanctum sanctorum of the second floor of the Janmabhoomi Temple during Abhijeet Muhurta by Vedic Acharyas after chanting mantras and performing rituals. The people of Ayodhya gave a grand welcome to President Murmu from the airport to the temple
Cultural events were held from the airport to the temple.
Following this, the President’s convoy departed from the airport for the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple. A festive atmosphere prevailed along the route. Nearly 20 cultural platforms were set up on both sides of the road, where approximately 250 artists filled the atmosphere with devotional performances based on the Ramayana. Artists dressed in Indian costumes captivated the audience with welcome songs, bhajans, Awadhi-Bhojpuri folk songs, and folk dances, including a performance steeped in Indian culture.
Ayodhya residents welcomed the President with a shower of flowers.
Standing along the roadside, they showered flowers and cheered, warmly welcoming the nation’s first citizen. The President also greeted the people of Ayodhya. To enhance the grandeur of the event, traditional performances such as Ramlila scenes, tableaux, drums, conch blowing, Veda recitation, and bhajan-kirtan were also organized on cultural platforms along the route, offering a glimpse of Ayodhya’s rich religious and cultural heritage. An atmosphere of reverence, enthusiasm, and joy pervaded the city of Ayodhya, decorated for the President’s arrival.
The Sri Ram Yantra was installed on the second floor of the temple.
Upon arriving at the Shri Ram Temple, President Murmu first visited Lord Shri Ram Lalla and performed puja and aarti. She then performed the ritual of installing the “Shri Ram Yantra.” With the installation of the “Shri Ram Yantra” following all the ceremonial rituals, the construction of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple witnessed a new history. As soon as the “Shri Ram Yantra” was installed, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple complex reverberated with chants of Lord Shri Ram.
The President toured the Shri Ram Temple complex and observed the figures carved on the walls. At the installation, Governor Anandi Ben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Mother Amritanandamayi from Kerala, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust General Secretary Champat Rai, Trust Treasurer Govind Dev Giri, Trustee Anil Mishra, and member Gopal, along with saints and sages and over 7,000 dignitaries from India and abroad were present.
Jagadguru Shankaracharya Vijayendra Saraswati Maharaj sent the “Shri Ram Yantra” to Ayodhya two years ago through a procession.
Based on Vedic mathematics and geometric shapes, this yantra is considered the abode of deities and has the ability to attract positive energy. A nine-day Vedic ritual for the ‘Shri Ram Yantra’ had already begun at the temple, conducted by acharyas from South India, Kashi, and Ayodhya.