1.01 Lakh Wicks Lit At Puri’s Jagannath Temple For Smooth Bhumi Puja Of Ram Mandir At Ayodhya

Puri: Several religious institutions in Puri on Monday performed ‘Deep Dan’ ritual in Jagannath Temple ahead of the Bhumi Puja of the proposed temple of Lord Ram in Ayodhya.

The heads of Raghav Math, Radha Ballav Mutt and Uttaraparswa Mutt and the members of Jagannath Sena performed the ritual by lighting 1.01 lakh wicks in a huge earthen pot on Baisi Pahacha ( 22 holy steps to reach the second inner gate) of the temple and prayed for the smooth Bhumi Puja of the Ram temple.

“We sought the blessing of Lord Jagannath for the construction of the much-awaited Ram temple at Ayodhya.  We had been waiting for it for the last 500 years and our long-cherished dream has finally been fulfilled today,” said the chief of Radha Ballav Mutt.

He said that Ayodhya would have witnessed a congregation of thousands of devotees and saints across the country, but for the COVID-19 pandemic. “We hope that the situation will become normal by the time the temple construction ends and we will attend its inauguration. We appeal the people to perform the puja of Lord Ram and Lord Hanuman in their home for the smooth construction of the temple,” he added.

Convener of Jagannath Sena Priyadarshan Patnaik said that the members of Sena had gone to Ayodhya on November 22 last year and offered the holy water and holy soil of Jagannath Temple and the Nirmalya of the Lord for the Bhumi Puja.

“We pray Lord Ram to create a Ram Rajya in the country for peace and tranquillity,” he added.