The grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya is set to witness a historic moment on 25 November, as a ceremonial flag will be hoisted atop its main shikhara, marking the completion of its construction. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself will perform the flag-hoisting ceremony on Vijayadashami Panchami, in a specially organised event.
Defence Ministry recommends flag modifications
Initially, a flag had been prepared for the occasion, but it was returned after the Ministry of Defence suggested modifications. The original flag was made of light fabric and did not meet the specifications required for safety and ceremonial standards. Following the ministry’s recommendations, a new flag is being prepared to meet the required standards.
According to the Defence Ministry, the flag will be 22 feet long and 11 feet wide and its weight must be between 2 to 3 kilograms. The fabric is being woven with silk using parachute threads to ensure durability. The flag will also feature symbolic elements, including the Koivdar tree representing Ram Rajya, the Sun emblem of the Suryavansh dynasty and the Omkar symbol.
Grand ceremony planned for devotees
The flag-hoisting is expected to take approximately five minutes and the auspicious timing (muhurat) is set between 11:58 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Alongside Prime Minister Modi, the ceremony will be attended by RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will guide the Prime Minister on a tour of the temple complex.
The event is planned to be grand and spectacular, with a 42-44 feet tall flagpole atop the 161-foot high shikhara. The flagpole will be capable of rotating 360 degrees. The temple complex will be decorated with flowers and lights, and arrangements are being made to accommodate 7,000-8,000 devotees. The rituals will mirror those of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony and after the flag-hoisting, Prime Minister Modi will address the gathering, formally declaring the completion of the Ram Temple construction.
