LUCKNOW: “Meri jhopdi ke bhag aaj khul jayenge, Ram aayenge.” Women and children can be seen dancing to this devotional song on Dharm Path as the temple town prepares to welcome Ram Lalla in his new abode.
Among them is Neha Ahuja, a human resource consultant with a firm in Faridabad, who is matching the steps with children whose parents are busy decorating and cleaning the streets leading to Lata Chowk, Ram Path and Ram ki Paidi.
For the past many weeks, Neha and her husband Ankit Ahuja have been arranging about 20kg of eatables daily to feed monkeys and stray animals on the streets. They are helped by other volunteers. “The animals too are a part of Ayodhya and feeding them is also seva for Lord Ram,” says the couple who has roped in six artists of Ayodhya to make rangolis on Ram Ki Paidi, depicting the return of Ram and Sita from Lanka. These artists are also making rangolis near Ramjanmabhoomi site. “I’m into the art business export in 61 countries and promote local artists. Therefore, Neha and I decided to voluntarily hire local artists to decorate Ramnagari,” says Ankit.
Ram Charan Singh and his friends from Ghazipur district have organised bhandaras at several locations for workers, pilgrims, tourists — many of whom have walked several miles from Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, and Madhya Pradesh to the temple town.
“It’s Ram bhakti that motivated me to travel on foot from Jhajjar to Ayodhya. I started on Jan 1 and reached here on Jan 18 afternoon. I was joined by several other pilgrims on the way and we formed a group that supported each other in the journey,” said Sandeep Dhaiya who has posted his travel stories on Instagram.
The 2km stretch on Dharm Path summarizes the Ramayan with over 80 artworks and murals drawn on the walls. Runjeet Mondal, an artist from Bengal working on murals, said, “We are running behind schedule but are confident of completing sufficient number of artworks before Jan 22.”
The streets of Ayodhya are reverberating with songs sung by various groups of seers and devotees. Tourists are capturing the colourful and musical ambience on their cameras, with some even livestreaming them on social media. “One can feel an incredible energy here. Strangers are mingling with each other, singing and dancing in unison, with Lord Ram being the common thread,” said Shruti, a YouTuber from Ahmedabad.
Administrative machinery, too, is sparing no effort. Municipal corporation has deployed automatic road sweeping machines, multi-purpose truck embedded with sprinkling system and anti-smog gun to keep the city spic-and span. Battery operated buses and e-rickshaws are available round the clock for the convenience of pilgrims.
Every evening, Ayodhya soaks in the celestial glow of laser lights and LED string lights. Several large screens are being installed along the footpath which would telecast Ramayan and other events for public view. Large podiums and stages are also being set up where artists will perform on the day of consecration.
Police personnel are guarding every part of the city with utmost alertness 24X7.
Among them is Neha Ahuja, a human resource consultant with a firm in Faridabad, who is matching the steps with children whose parents are busy decorating and cleaning the streets leading to Lata Chowk, Ram Path and Ram ki Paidi.
For the past many weeks, Neha and her husband Ankit Ahuja have been arranging about 20kg of eatables daily to feed monkeys and stray animals on the streets. They are helped by other volunteers. “The animals too are a part of Ayodhya and feeding them is also seva for Lord Ram,” says the couple who has roped in six artists of Ayodhya to make rangolis on Ram Ki Paidi, depicting the return of Ram and Sita from Lanka. These artists are also making rangolis near Ramjanmabhoomi site. “I’m into the art business export in 61 countries and promote local artists. Therefore, Neha and I decided to voluntarily hire local artists to decorate Ramnagari,” says Ankit.
Ram Charan Singh and his friends from Ghazipur district have organised bhandaras at several locations for workers, pilgrims, tourists — many of whom have walked several miles from Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, and Madhya Pradesh to the temple town.
“It’s Ram bhakti that motivated me to travel on foot from Jhajjar to Ayodhya. I started on Jan 1 and reached here on Jan 18 afternoon. I was joined by several other pilgrims on the way and we formed a group that supported each other in the journey,” said Sandeep Dhaiya who has posted his travel stories on Instagram.
The 2km stretch on Dharm Path summarizes the Ramayan with over 80 artworks and murals drawn on the walls. Runjeet Mondal, an artist from Bengal working on murals, said, “We are running behind schedule but are confident of completing sufficient number of artworks before Jan 22.”
The streets of Ayodhya are reverberating with songs sung by various groups of seers and devotees. Tourists are capturing the colourful and musical ambience on their cameras, with some even livestreaming them on social media. “One can feel an incredible energy here. Strangers are mingling with each other, singing and dancing in unison, with Lord Ram being the common thread,” said Shruti, a YouTuber from Ahmedabad.
Administrative machinery, too, is sparing no effort. Municipal corporation has deployed automatic road sweeping machines, multi-purpose truck embedded with sprinkling system and anti-smog gun to keep the city spic-and span. Battery operated buses and e-rickshaws are available round the clock for the convenience of pilgrims.
Every evening, Ayodhya soaks in the celestial glow of laser lights and LED string lights. Several large screens are being installed along the footpath which would telecast Ramayan and other events for public view. Large podiums and stages are also being set up where artists will perform on the day of consecration.
Police personnel are guarding every part of the city with utmost alertness 24X7.