Ram Navami: Ram Lalla’s Surya Tilak to take place; here’s all you need to know
Five-year-old Ram Lalla's idol consecrated in Ayodhya's Ram Mandir.
It’s Ram Navami on Wednesday (Apr 17) and the newly built Ram Temple is all decked up for the festivities. Ram Navami, which falls on the ninth day of the Chaitra month, is observed as the birthday of Lord Rama. The devotees are super excited as a special ‘Surya Abhishek’ of Ram Lalla will be held on the occasion. It will take place when the Sun’s rays will first fall on the forehead of the Ram Lalla’s idol at noon. It is the first major celebration being held at the temple after its inauguration in January this year.
All you need to know about ‘Surya Tilak’
Surya Abhishek or Surya Tilak will take place at noon as the rays of the Sun will fall on the idol’s forehead. It would be a highly controlled and guided phenomenon in which rays would be captured and diverted via a series of optical apparatus.
During Surya Tilak, sun rays will shine on the idol’s forehead for four minutes in a circular form spanning 75 millimetres.
Dr S K Panigrahi, a scientist at CSIR-CBRI Roorkee, who was associated with the Surya Tilak project, said the Tilak will be on the centre of the forehead for two to three minutes. “The exact period of tilak on the forehead centre is about three to three-and-a-half minutes, with two minutes of full illumination,” he was quoted as saying in media reports.
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Temple to openat 3 am
On the special occasion of Ram Navami, the temple will remain open for 19 hours, starting at 3:00 am early morning with Mangala Aarti. The curtains would be drawn for five minutes during the noon as the Surya Tilak will take place at that time.
Similarly, the curtains would be drawn for five minutes each during the four ‘bhog’ offerings to the Lord.
Chief priest of Ram Janmabhoomi temple, Acharya Satyendra Das, said the event was being celebrated with grandeur “because Lord Ram is now in his new abode.”
“The temple has been decorated…Rituals are open and will begin at 3 am tonight…Ram Lalla will wear yellow clothes. He will be offered 56 Bhog. Three types of Panjiri will also be offered. Panchamrit will be offered too…The darshan will continue from 3 am to 12 am,” he added.
Ahead of the festival, Ram Temple has urged the devotees to visit Ayodhya for the darshan of Ram Lalla only after April 19.
(With inputs from agencies)