Week-long Celebrations Kicked-off at Hindu Temples Across U.S. Ahead of the Ram Temple Consecration in Ayodhya
- The VHPA has placed more than 40 billboards in 10 states, prominently displaying the message of the consecration ceremony.
Hindu temples across the country kicked-off week-long celebrations in North America to commemorate the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. To be held at small and big temples in North America, the festivities kicked off on an. 15, and will culminate in the live telecast of the Jan. 22 inauguration from Ayodhya, which will be on Jan. 21 night in the U.S. Attendees of Jan. 15 event will join the inauguration virtually “to celebrate Bhagwan Shree Ram’s pran pratishta,” Tejal Shah of the Hindu Mandirs Empowerment Council (HMEC) told the Press Trust of India.
Since December, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America has been organizing a variety of events throughout the country to mark the temple inauguration. From public car rallies, exhibits and readings of the Ramayana, and as well as kirtans, Indian American devotees came out in large numbers to participate in the festivities. Several watch parties of the Jan. 22 ceremony are also planned.
In Maryland, over 100 people gathered at Shri Bhaktha Anjaneya Temple in Frederick City on Jan. 13. Organized by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) of America, the Tesla musical light show featured Tesla cars arranged strategically in the shape of the word “Ram.” Videos showed members of the Hindu community holding flags adorned with images of Lord Ram and chanting slogans like ‘”ai Shree Ram” and “Ram Lakshman Janki, Jai Shri Hanuman Ki.”
In neighboring New Jersey, more than 250 cars participated and in a Jan. 13 car rally in Edison, also hosted by VHPA.
Earlier on Jan. 8, a car rally was held across Houston, Texas, stopping at 11 temples along the way amid bhajans and slogans, the Press Trust of India reported. “Over 500 enthusiastic riders, carrying saffron banners with an image of the Ram temple, the U.S. and the Indian flag participated in the rally in a 3-mile-long line of cars escorted by eight police officers on bikes,” the report added.
Last month, a similar car rally held last month, covered 11 temples in the North and Northwest areas of Chicagoland. Participants drove from one temple to the other, carrying icons of Lord Rama and Lord Hanuman, waters of the holy river Ganges, and Hindu scripture as tributes. A hundred cars participated in the car rally, which commenced at the Hanuman mandir in Glenview, traversed through the villages of Long Grove, Hoffman Estates, Schaumburg, Bensenville, Itasca, Medinah and Glen Ellyn, and proceeded to finish at the BAPS Swami Narayan temple in Bartlett.
Meanwhile, on the west coast, the group California Indians is holding a car rally on Jan. 20. Organizers told PTI that “more than 400 cars will join the rally that is expected to go from South Bay to the Golden Gate Bridge.”
Meanwhile, the VHPA has placed more than 40 billboards in 10 states, prominently displaying the message of the consecration ceremony. “The resounding message conveyed by these billboards is that Hindu Americans are elated and joyously participating in this once-in-a-lifetime event,” Amitabh VW Mittal, general secretary, Hindu Parishad of America, told ANI. “Their emotions overflow as they eagerly await the auspicious day of the consecration ceremony.”