Indian community in Galway celebrates Ayodhya Ram Mandir Consecration from afar
Wide Angle View of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir at Night
The highly anticipated consecration ceremony (Pran Pratishtha) of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth in Ayodhya took place in India today. The Hindu temple was erected on the site of a razed mosque, destroyed by a group of radicals three decades prior.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the ceremony and the rituals accompanied by the saints and seers guiding him through the process. Over 7000 people attended the event, including politicians, celebrities, industrialists and sport personalities. Those that could not attend in person, joined via livestream.
Authorities and priests have been performing ceremonies and rituals at the temple over the last 7 days. On 19 January, 2024, the first look of Shri Ram Lalla’s idol was unveiled to the public. The kalash (auspicious pot) from the mandir was circulated to all parts of India for people to keep in their home temples. It was also sent to the ISCKON Temple in Dublin.
“It was one of the grandest occasions for all the Hindus,” said Parth Dave, an Indian student studying at the University of Galway. “I am here due to my academic commitments, if I were in India, I would surely have visited the temple on 23 January, 2024.”
While many Hindu Indians living in Galway, like Mr Dave, could not witness the grand opening and the ceremonies live, they were able to celebrate in their own small ways. Mr Dave says that he plans to invite people over to his home for a puja (sacred ritual) on the Shri Ram idol that he brought from India.
The Indian Society at the University of Galway is hosting an event that will coincide with its 75th Republic Day celebrations that will take place on Friday, 26 January, 2024. The event will feature a flag hoisting and bhandara (free food) courtesy of the Galway Indian Street Food truck. Indian Ambassador to Ireland Mr Akhilesh Mishra plans to attend.
“It is an honour for us to host the Indian Ambassador for Ireland at the University. We are excited to have him over on such a day when we are celebrating two important milestones for our country,” said Sai Gujulla, auditor of the Indian Society at University of Galway. “Our team, the fellow Indians and everyone in India are filled with pride of opening the doors to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth to everyone, and they are also pumped up to commemorate the 75th Republic Day.”
