Not just ‘Ram Janambhoomi’ in Ayodhya is high on festive fervour but the entire India is as the countdown to Lord Ram’s ‘Pran Pratishtha’ on January 22 begins. From high-end markets in Delhi such as Khan Market to housing societies in Mumbai, Bihar’s Mithila — the birthplace of Sita — Karnataka’s Ramanagara district — where Lord Ram visited during exile — are all gearing up for the D-Day with much fanfare.
But more than 7,000 km from Ayodhya is Paris — widely known as the city of love—which will see a Rath Yatra, 24 hours before the actual event in India.
When Paris will see ‘Rath Yatra’
Indians living in Paris have organised two events to celebrate the “glory of Lord Ram” on January 21 under ‘Ayodhya Mandir Mahotsav’. Organisers told News18 that the event was organised on Sunday so that as many people could attend it.
First, there will be a ‘Ram Rath Yatra’ where by Lord Ram will be taken across the main points of the French capital. There will also be elaborate Puja and Aarti, distribution of Prasad followed by a brief cultural performance. The ‘Ram Rath Yatra’ will start at 12 pm from Place De La Chapelle and finish at Place De Trocadero — where the iconic Eiffel Tower is— at 3 pm. The yatra will start by offering prayers and ‘Vishwa Kalyan Yagna’ at a Ganesha temple at 10.30 am at La Chapelle, organisers told News18. After that, the yatra will pass by Place De La Republique, Musée de Louver (Louver Museum), the iconic Arc De Triomphe and finally reach Place De Trocadero.
Speaking exclusively to News18, Avinash Mishra who is the main organiser and also the President of Overseas Friends of BJP in France, said, “We are expecting 150 to 200 people to join the yatra. But we are expecting more than a thousand people to assemble near the Eiffel Tower for the Puja and cultural programme. Already more than 400 have registered with us. That number will swell.” He further said one of the concerns of the organisers is the harsh cold conditions in Paris. “We want to wrap up everything by 4 in the evening,” he said.
The chariot on which Lord Ram will travel across the main points of Paris will be a reminder of the ‘Rath Yatra’ of the 90s when BJP patriarch Lal Krishna Advani began his journey from Somnath on September 25, 1990 — Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya’s birth anniversary — to culminate at Ayodhya on October 30, after traversing 10,000 km.
Puja, Aarti & Ram Cutouts at Eiffel Tower
After the completion of the ‘Ram Rath Yatra’ at Place De Trocadero, the action shifts to the Eiffel Tower. “There will be Puja as well as the Aarti. Huge cutouts of Lord Ram have been ordered, which will adorn areas around the Eiffel Tower. We will also have a cultural event where songs of Lord Ram will be performed. We have invited saints as well who will deliver speeches there. We will also distribute Prasad,” Mishra told News18.
An invitation card for the event is already published which is being distributed among Indians in France. It talks about a “magnificent temple” that is coming up in Ayodhya and the Indians are “fortunate to be witnessing this temple of our dreams” turning into reality. “We invite you to join us and become part of this historic and joyous occasion,” the invite reads, which also bears the image of the Ayodhya Ram temple.
“It is the consciousness of our Sanatan roots. Billions across the globe are learning the spiritual heritage we had lost. It is a moment of pride. We in Paris are doing our part to join in this global frenzy,” said Mishra. In his voice, there was a tinge of sadness about being far away from India but also a sense of pride for making the Eiffel Tower reverberate with ‘Jai Shri Ram’ chants.
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