During Navratri, Ram Lalla will don distinctive khadi clothes adorned with golden prints.

As the Chaitra Navratri festival approaches, the Shri Ram Janambhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust, responsible for overseeing the Shri Ram Janambhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya, has announced unique khadi clothes for the idol of Bhagwan Shri Ram Lalla.

khadi clothes for Ram Lalla

From April 9, the commencement of Chaitra Navratri, until Ram Navami on April 17, the Ram Lalla idol will be adorned with specially crafted garments (khadi clothes) or ‘vastras’. These vastras, made from hand-spun and hand-woven khadi cotton, will be embellished with authentic silver and gold khadi hand block prints, inspired by Vaishnav Chinha.

Shri Ram Janambhoomi trust has shared a video glimpse of these intricately decorated vastras on its official social media handle. Prior to this, the Ram Lalla idol was dressed in handloom cotton malmal attire, naturally dyed with indigo and adorned with gotta flowers, in anticipation of the summer season.

The Ram Lalla idol was revealed during the ‘Pran Pratishtha ceremony’ on January 22, a ceremony that lasted an hour and was presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Chaitra Navratri is a nine-day festival that culminates with Ram Navami on the ninth day. During this period, devotees observe fasts and worship the nine forms of Goddess Durga.

Surya tilak ritual anoints Ram Lalla with sunlight at noon

With the first Ram Navami following the consecration of Ram Lalla nearing, elaborate preparations are underway for a momentous celebration commemorating Lord Ram’s grand birth anniversary after half a millennium.

khadi clothes

A notable feature of the festivities will be the Surya tilak, a ritual where Ram Lalla is anointed with sunlight at noon, signifying his birth hour. This ceremony, scheduled for Ram Navami, will see the sun’s rays illuminating Ram Lalla’s divine face for about four minutes, forming a circular tilak of 75 mm on his forehead.

Champat Rai, who is the convener of the Shri Ram Janambhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, expressed his optimism about a unique event that is expected to take place. He mentioned that the event will last for four minutes and that scientists are working hard to prepare for it. Necessary equipment is being installed in the Ram temple for trial runs.

In line with Lord Ram’s Suryavanshi lineage, a proposal was put forth during the temple’s construction to incorporate scientific methods to ensure that the sun’s rays directly anoint the Ram Lalla idol.

The Central Building Research Institute in Roorkee developed an innovative ‘Tilak of Sun Rays’ system using mirrors, lenses, and brass. This system, which operates without batteries or electricity, will bestow the divine tilak on Lord Ram on the auspicious day of Ram Navami.

This special Surya tilak, 75 mm in diameter, will be an annual event exclusive to Ram Navami. The optomechanical system on the temple’s third floor includes high-quality mirrors, lenses, and vertical piping with strategically positioned lenses. Mirrors and lenses on the ground floor will aid the process, ensuring that sunlight falls onto the Ram Lalla idol, marking his forehead with the divine symbol for two to three minutes.

This ceremony is set to be a touching moment for devotees, marking the birth of Lord Ram in the sacred environment of the Ram temple. As the final preparations are underway, the anticipation for this historic event that will be etched in the memories of devotees for years to come is building up.

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