Ayodhya Lights Up In August Ceremony

‘It’s Beginning Of Making Of New India’

- Neha Lalchandani & Arshad Afzaal Khan

Ayodhya: While Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed bhoomi pujan, the city erupted in celebration. As sound of conch shells, bells and firecrackers rent the air, more than one quintal sweets were distributed by residents. And in the evening, it was yet another Diwali here with lakhs of diyas lit in temples and along the banks of the Saryu.

Laddoos were distributed among residents and guests, as a large number of organisations and individuals prepared sweets for the event. Patna’s Mahavir Mandir Trust got 1.25 lakh ‘Raghupati’ laddoos prepared, reportedly with besan from Australia and ghee from Kerala. Another 1.15 lakh laddoos were prepared by devotees of Devraha Hans Baba.

Mahant Kamal Das of Panchmukhi Hanuman Gujarati Mandir said food and sweets were prepared for distribution as ‘bhog.’

With movement around Hanuman Garhi restricted on Wednesday morning, people sat around in ashrams and shops to view the ceremony on television. As soon as the bhoomi pujan concluded, residents burst into cheers and shouts of ‘Jai Shri Ram’.