Puri: Devotees gathered in large numbers at Shree Jagannath Temple as the sacred Golden Bow of Lord Ram arrived at the 12th-century shrine in Odisha’s Puri on Monday amid chanting of hymns.
The bow, crafted in gold and symbolising Lord Ram’s divine strength, was ceremoniously brought to the pilgrim town, one of the ‘Char Dhams’ (pilgrimage sites) revered by Hindus, as part of a nationwide religious journey, which began in Rourkela on January 2. The bow called Kodanda Dhanu, weighing 286kg and consisting of 5 divine elements, is 8 feet in length and 3 feet in height.
According to sources, the bow was taken inside the 12th-century shrine, where priests performed special rituals and prayers. The bow was circumambulated (parikrama) around the temple premises, signifying reverence to Lord Jagannath before its onward journey to Ayodhya, where it will be placed at the Ram Mandir.
The bow was also taken to Shree Linagaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar on Sunday from where it travelled to Puri.
The Shri Ram Gold Kodanda Vijaya Dhanush Yatra organised by Sanatan Jagran Manch with support from devotees and spiritual leaders is not only ceremonial but also carries a message of unity, devotion and shared heritage across regions. It is being held as a tribute to martyrs and Operation Sindoor, with the aim of entering the Guinness World Records for its scale and participation.
