JANAKPURDHAM, JANUARY 29
The Shaligram rock for carving the childhood image of Hindu god Ram to be placed in the sanctum sanctorum of the under-construction Ram temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, of India has arrived in Janakpurdham.
The rock was brought to Janaki temple here from Galeshwar of Kaligandaki last evening. A special worship (maha puja) was offered to it this morning. The holy men, including Mahantha Ram Tapeshwar Das of Janaki temple, sages and devotees performed the maha puja on the temple premises.
Roshan Das, the successor to Mahantha Ram Tapeshwar, said the rock would be kept on the temple precincts throughout the day today for special worship. It will be taken through Janakpurdham town along with a religious procession tomorrow morning before taking it to Ayodhya.
He said Janaki temple's Mahantha, Das and former deputy prime minister Bimalendra Nidhi, among other devotees, would join the group that would take the rock to Ayodhya.
Among the dignitaries present in the Maha Puja were Madhes Province Chief Hari Shankar Mishra, Chief Minister Saroj Kumar Yadav, Speaker Ram Chandra Mandal, leader Nidhi and CPN- UML leader Juli Kumari Mahato (Mahaseth).
A version of this article appears in the print on January 29, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
