Sat Jan 11 15:43:50 UTC 2025: ## Ayodhya Celebrates First Anniversary of Ram Mandir’s Consecration
**Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India –** The first anniversary of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya was celebrated on January 11, 2025, with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath leading the celebrations. The event marks the anniversary of the consecration of the Lord Ram idol, a ceremony performed last year on January 22nd by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This year’s celebration was adjusted to align with the Hindu calendar.
CM Adityanath offered prayers and performed a Puja at the temple, sharing his blessings on X (formerly Twitter) with the message “Blessed is Avadh which is famous for Ram… Jai Jai Shri Ram.” Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak also extended his congratulations. Prime Minister Modi, in a separate message, hailed the temple as a “great heritage of our culture and spirituality,” expressing confidence that it would inspire India’s development.
Three days of celebrations commenced, featuring religious rituals such as Agnihotra, the chanting of “Ram Naam” six lakh times, and recitations of the Ram Raksha Stotra and Hanuman Chalisa. Cultural programs, including Rag Seva and a Ram Katha, were also scheduled. The Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust reported that over two lakh devotees visited the temple on New Year’s Day and lakhs more have visited since the Pran Pratishtha ceremony. The increased number of visitors is also boosting tourism at other nearby temples.
The anniversary celebrations come amidst a backdrop of varied political commentary. BJP’s Prem Kumar asserted Lalu Yadav’s dwindling influence in Bihar, while RJD MP Manoj Jha criticized the UP government’s three-day program, stating that the temple “does not belong to BJP.”
First Piper 