Next month, on January 22, during the consecration of life in the grand Ram temple in Ayodhya, there will be similar fanfare for a week in the temples of America across the seven seas.
A top official of the organization representing Hindu temples in America said that temples in North America are also preparing for a week-long festival to mark the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22 next year.
“It is our good fortune and a blessing for us that we are part of this event and our dream temple is coming true after centuries of waiting and struggle,” Tejal Shah of Hindu Temple Empowerment Council (HMEC) told PTI.
He said, “Everyone in America and Canada is eagerly waiting to receive Lord Shri Ram in their temple. Everyone is filled with devotion and reverence.”
Let us tell you that Hindu Temple Empowerment Council is the supreme body of more than 1,100 Hindu temples in the United States. He said the week-long festival in small and big temples across North America will begin on January 15 and end with the live telecast of the inauguration of the Ram temple from Ayodhya on the night of January 20.
Shah said thousands of Hindus in America are likely to watch the inauguration ceremony.
He said, “For us, it will be 11 pm Eastern Time on January 21st. So we will all join virtually that night to celebrate the consecration of Lord Shri Ram.” “At the end of the program we will take a resolution,” he said.
So far, several dozen temples in America have registered to participate in the Shri Ram Naam Sankirtan chanting performed by the priests on January 15.
He said, more than half of the temples in America have signed up for the main events to be held on the night of January 21-22 and more than 100 temples are seen registering for it every week.
He said the January 15 program would begin with the chanting of Ram Naam Sankirtan by the priests. Ram Naam Sankirtan is the chanting of the 108 names of Lord Ram used in Valmiki Ramayana.
This will be followed by bhajan recital by renowned Atlanta artist Vinod Krishnan, who will sing some popular new bhajans of Lord Ram, he said.
Shah said that on January 21, there are plans to light lamps, blow conch shells, watch the inauguration live in these temples and distribute Prasad in about 1100 temples of America. Shah said, each participating temple will be given Shri Ram Janmabhoomi. Certificate of participation and “Prasad” will be received from Teerth Kshetra Trust.
He said, “We have created the exhibition ‘Ramayana Around the World’ to commemorate the consecration and inauguration of the temple at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya.
This 26-poster exhibition highlights the importance of Shri Ram and Ramayana in countries across the world.” He said that this exhibition is available for display at temples and local community centres.