Key points
- PM Modi hoisted a 10×20 feet triangular saffron flag on the 191-foot shikhara of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya at around 12 noon, formalizing completion of temple construction.
- The ceremony, called Dhwajarohan, comes 22 months after PM Modi consecrated the Ram Lalla idol in January 2024, and was broadcast live on Doordarshan for nationwide participation.
- RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, Governor Anandiben Patel, and temple trust leaders Mahant Nritya Gopal Das and Swami Govind Dev Giri attended the ceremony.
- The Dharma Dhwaj features Sun symbol representing Lord Ram’s brilliance and valour, Om symbolizing divinity, and Kovidara tree representing Raghukul dynasty glory.
- PM Modi described the moment as fulfilment of a 500-year-old resolve, saying centuries of pain are being put to rest and wounds of centuries are healing.
- He quoted Tulsidas’s Ramcharit Manas, “No one is poor, no one is sad,” emphasizing that in developed India vision, no one should remain unhappy or destitute.
- Mohan Bhagwat called the temple more magnificent than the dream of saints like Ashok Singhal and Mahant Ramchandra Das who sacrificed for the movement.
- Yogi Adityanath said the flag hoisting marks beginning of a new era, not culmination of a yagya, and thanked PM Modi for making Ayodhya a global destination and solar city.
- Before the flag hoisting, PM Modi visited Mata Annapurna Mandir and offered prayers at Ram Darbar Garbh Grah and Ram Lalla Garbh Grah.
- The PM emphasized changing “gulami ki mansikta” (slavery mentality) in next 10 years, referencing Lord Macaulay, and called for strong foundation for coming 1,000 years.
Ayodhya witnessed a historic milestone on Tuesday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi ceremonially hoisted the sacred saffron Dharma Dhwaj atop the 191-foot shikhara of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple, marking the formal completion of the grand temple complex nearly 22 months after he consecrated the Ram Lalla idol in January 2024. The right-angled triangular flag, measuring 10 feet in height and 20 feet in length, was raised amid Vedic chants and chants of “Jai Shri Ram” as RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stood alongside the Prime Minister during the Dhwajarohan ceremony attended by approximately 7,000 special guests, including dignitaries, devotees, and representatives from diverse social backgrounds.
Symbolism of the Dharma Dhwaj
Addressing the gathering after the flag hoisting, PM Modi explained that the Dharma Dhwaj is not merely a flag but the flag of Indian civilisation’s renaissance, embodying the saga of construction through struggle and the dreams cherished for centuries. The saffron colour represents dharma, while the flag bears three powerful symbols: the Sun representing Lord Ram’s brilliance and valour, the sacred word Om symbolising divinity, and the Kovidara tree representing the glory of the Suryavansh (Raghukul dynasty). The Prime Minister said this Dharma Dhwaj will proclaim “Satyameva Jayate” (truth alone triumphs) and inspire the principle of “praan jaaye par vachan na jaaye” (life may go but promise must not be broken).
PM Modi’s message of national welfare
From the Ram temple, PM Modi delivered a profound message of welfare to the nation, quoting Goswami Tulsidas’s Ramcharit Manas, “No one is poor, no one is sad,” to convey that in the vision of a developed India by 2047, no citizen should remain unhappy or destitute. He emphasised that Lord Ram’s essence lies in prioritising people’s happiness above all, maintaining ideal conduct and supreme character, and that understanding Shri Ram’s personality is crucial for building a strong foundation for the coming 1,000 years. The Prime Minister declared that the entire world has become filled with Ram, and in every Ram devotee’s heart, there is unparalleled satisfaction, boundless gratitude, and immense transcendental joy as centuries-old wounds heal and the resolve of centuries gets fulfilled.
Tributes to the movement’s sacrifices
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, in his address, described the Dhwajarohan ceremony as a historic moment for the nation, paying tribute to the relentless meditation and struggle of revered saints, warriors, and devotees who sacrificed their lives for the temple movement. He specifically mentioned figures like Ashok Singhal and Mahant Ramchandra Das, stating that the temple built is even more magnificent and beautiful than the dream they had envisioned. Bhagwat elaborated on the flag’s symbolism, explaining that the saffron color represents dharma and the Kovidar tree symbolises the Raghukul dynasty, concluding with a call for collective effort to build a strong Bharat that can guide the world.
Beginning of a new era
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, addressing the gathering, declared that the flag hoisting at the grand temple of Lord Ram in Ayodhya is not the “Poornaahuti” (culmination) of a yagya but the beginning of a new era. He thanked PM Modi on behalf of Ram devotees and congratulated both the Prime Minister and Mohan Bhagwat for making the historic moment possible. The Chief Minister highlighted that in the past 11 years, the government has placed every section of society, women, Dalits, backward classes, tribals, farmers, labourers, and youth at the centre of development, reflecting Lord Ram’s principle of connecting through emotion rather than discrimination. He also noted Ayodhya’s transformation into a global destination and solar city under the current administration.
Spiritual preparations and nationwide participation
Before the flag hoisting ceremony, PM Modi visited Mata Annapurna Mandir in Ayodhya and offered prayers and darshan at Ram Darbar Garbh Grah, followed by darshan at Ram Lalla Garbh Grah. The entire ceremony was broadcast live on Doordarshan, allowing millions across the country to witness the monumental spiritual milestone. The event marks a significant turning point in India’s cultural consciousness, with the Prime Minister emphasising that the temple’s completion makes all efforts meaningful and hoists the flag of Ram Rajya for the world to see. From Wednesday onwards, temple bells will ring, and flags will be unfurled across 14 additional temples within the 2.7-acre complex, including the parkota wall and spire over Ram Lalla, signifying extensive development and a new beginning for the temple town.
