AYODHYA: Ayodhya is in a devoutly festive mood as the Ram Lalla idol is to be consecrated here on Monday. Thousands of devotees march through the streets chanting Jai Sri Ram and Jai Siyaram (Rama with Sita). This includes elderly men, women and children. Hanuman costumes were seen in many places. The streets are decorated with flags and flowers. The city is filled with lights during the night. Devotees told Kerala Kaumudi that they see Rama in every atom of Ayodhya.

Ram Lalla's picture went viral

As the preparations for the Ram temple consecration in Ayodhya enter the final hours, the image of Ram Lalla's idol installed in the sanctum sanctorum has emerged on social media. The idol holding a golden bow and arrow is the form of Lord Rama when he was five years old. The 51-inch tall Rama idol carved in 'Krishna Shila' is made by the sculptor Arun Yogiraj, a native of Mysore. Although the pictures of it were earlier released, the eyes were covered with cloth.

A bow can be seen in the left hand of the sculpture and an arrow in the right hand. Om, chakra, mace and swastika motifs adorn the sculpture. As soon as the picture was released, it went viral on social media. Ahead of pran-pratishtha, Navagraha Puja was performed yesterday. The garbhagriha will be washed with water from Sarayu river today.

Yogi in Ayodhya, judges invited

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday visited the Ram Temple and reviewed the preparations and security of the pran-pratishtha ceremony. Former Chief Justices Ranjan Gogoi, SA Bobde, present Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, retired judges Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer, who were on the five-member constitution bench of the Supreme Court which approved the construction of the Ram temple, were invited to the ceremony. Ranjan Gogoi is now a Rajya Sabha MP and Abdul Nazeer is the Governor of Andhra Pradesh.

Indian Railways has decided to broadcast the pran-pratishtha live at railway stations. It will be shown on 9000 screens across the country. Monday has been declared a public holiday in Maharashtra.

People with Khalistan links arrested

The Uttar Pradesh anti-terrorism squad has arrested three Rajasthan natives for allegedly trying to create trouble in Ayodhya. The anti-terrorist squad says that they have links with the banned organization Sikhs for Justice.

What is pran-pratishtha?

Pran-pratishtha refers to the ritual by which the aura of a murti is invited to the idol in a temple, wherein hymns and mantra are recited, to make the idol powerful by imbuing it with a sacred or divine essence.