In the run-up to the consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22, a myriad of unique gifts and offerings have been pouring in from various corners, both within India and beyond.
A significant addition to the preparations is a grand Kangan of Goddess Sita, installed in Ayodhya’s Mohbara Bazar. This symbolizes the rich cultural and religious diversity contributing to the grandeur of the impending ceremony.
Among the notable gifts is a spectacular 108-foot-long incense stick, a 2,100-kg bell, a massive 1,100-kg lamp, gold footwear, a 10-foot-high lock and key, and a globally synchronized clock representing eight countries. These offerings are enhancing the religious fervor surrounding the consecration.
The international gifts contributions include over 3,000 gifts from Janakpur, Nepal, the birthplace of Sita, silver shoes, ornaments, and clothes, arrived in Ayodhya this week, symbolizing cross-border reverence for Lord Ram.
A Sri Lankan delegation presented a unique gift—a rock from the Ashok Vatika, a significant location in the epic Ramayana where Ravan captivated Sita. With the first phase of the temple nearing completion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to participate in the historic consecration ceremony. This follows a landmark 2019 Supreme Court verdict settling a century-old temple-mosque dispute and endorsing the construction of the Ram temple.
Gifts from different states showcase the unity in diversity. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel flagged off a 44-foot-long brass flag pole and a nagaru (temple drum) crafted by the All India Dabgar Samaj in Dariyapur. Unique contributions include a 400-kg lock and key, claimed to be the world’s largest, by locksmith Satya Prakash Sharma from Aligarh. A 56-inch nagaru made of gold foil will adorn the temple courtyard.
Other offerings include a 2,100-kg bell made of ‘ashtadhatu’ from Etah’s Jalesar and a clock designed by a Lucknow-based vendor, Anil Kumar Sahu, denoting time in eight countries simultaneously.
As a gesture of culinary devotion, Chef Vishnu Manohar from Nagpur will prepare 7,000 kg of “Ram Halwa” for the attending devotees. Various organizations, including the Shri Krishna Janmasthan Seva Sansthan in Mathura and the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, are contributing laddu for the occasion. Additionally, a special saree from Surat, a textile hub, will be sent as an offering to the temple authorities. The diverse and thoughtful gifts underscore the nationwide and international reverence for this momentous occasion