By Tajdar H Zaidi
RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, spiritual leaders including Swami Govind Dev Giri, and top state dignitaries such as Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Ayodhya on Tuesday for the grand hoisting of the saffron Dharma Dhwaja atop the Ram temple’s shikhar—a moment described as the final seal on centuries of devotion, struggle and national resolve.
Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust Secretary Champat Rai said the flag, infused with symbols of the Kividar tree, Surya, and Om, reflects the rising sun, fire, sacrifice and unwavering devotion.
Crafted in saffron, the 20-foot-long, 10-foot-high, 20-kg emblem was so substantial that the Army was consulted for technical guidance on its elevation.
Before the main ceremony, PM Modi led a vibrant 1.5-km roadshow along the Ram Path. His cavalcade moved forward amid showers of flower petals as thousands lined the route.
The Prime Minister then visited the Sapta Madapam, offering floral tributes at the temples dedicated to seven revered sages—Maharishi Vashistha, Maharishi Agastya, Maharishi Valmiki, Mata Shabri, Nishad Raj, Guha, and Saint Tulsidas.
Inside the temple complex, Modi and Bhagwat jointly performed rituals at the Ram Darbar, with CM Yogi and Governor Patel standing behind them. The PM and the RSS chief later descended to the ground floor to offer prayers before the idol of Ram Lalla.
Construction of the grand temple began with the Bhumi Poojan performed by PM Modi in August 2020.
This followed the landmark Supreme Court judgment of November 9, 2019, in which a five-judge bench led by then CJI Ranjan Gogoi directed that the entire 2.7-acre disputed site be handed over to a government-constituted trust for building the Ram temple.
The ground floor shrine—housing the idol of Ram Lalla consecrated on January 22, 2024, under the PM’s guidance—is complemented by the Ram Darbar on the first floor, where the idols of Ram, Sita, Lakshman, Bharat, Shatrughan and Hanuman were consecrated on June 25 by CM Yogi Adityanath.
With the main temple now complete, six auxiliary shrines—Durga, Annapurna, Ganesha, Suryadev, Hanuman, and the Shiva-Sheshavadhar temple—have also been readied. The Dharma Dhwaja will be raised on each of these sanctums as well.
Sources said the event’s invitation list mirrored the Ram Mandir movement’s wide social footprint.
Attendees included members of various communities—Kinnars, Kumhars, Lodhis, Yadavs, Dhobis, Pasis, Valmikis, and Ravidas groups—along with ST invitees from Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.
Many had longstanding connections with the RSS and the temple movement.
At around 11:50 am, PM Modi hoisted the Dharma Dhwaja, calling it a moment of civilisational triumph, marking not just the completion of the temple but the culmination of a movement that spanned more than two centuries.
On X, the Prime Minister had earlier framed the ceremony as a spiritual milestone for the country. “Lord Shri Ram is the soul of India, the heartbeat of our civilisation, and the foundation of our national pride,” he wrote.
“To offer prayers at his birthplace and witness the hoisting of the sacred flag is the greatest honour of my life.” Modi said the saffron banner embodies “Rama’s radiance, courage and ideals—along with the eternal flame of India’s faith, spirituality and cultural heritage.”
WHAT YOGI ADITYANATH SAID
CM Yogi Adityanath hailed the moment as the “return of a civilisational consciousness to its rightful throne.”
He said the Dharma Dhwaja reflects the victory of devotion over centuries of struggle. “This is not just Ayodhya’s triumph—it is Bharat’s resurgence,” the CM declared.
WHAT MOHAN BHAGWAT SAID
RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat called the event “a sacred chapter in the nation’s destiny.” He said the flag rising above the Ram Mandir symbolises “unity, cultural strength, and the unwavering spirit that carried the Ram Janmabhoomi movement across generations.”
Bhagwat praised the devotees whose sacrifices ensured the temple’s realisation: “This moment belongs to every heart that held Ram’s name through trials, faith, and hope.”
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