The sacred city of Ayodhya was aglow with the luminous presence of Indian cinema’s glitterati as they arrived to witness the consecration ceremony at the newly built Ram temple. Amidst the gathered devotees, the legendary Amitabh Bachchan led the roster of celebrities, accompanied by renowned actors such as Chiranjeevi and popular couples including Alia Bhatt-Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal-Katrina Kaif.
Monday saw a congregation of film industry icons, with directors like Rohit Shetty and Rajkumar Hirani, celebrated actors Ayushmann Khurrana, Madhuri Dixit Nene with her spouse Sriram Nene, and noted producer Mahaveer Jain all descending onto the pious ground of Ayodhya to partake in the historic event.
The previous day basked under the star power of personalities such as Hema Malini, Rajinikanth, Pawan Kalyan, vocalist Shankar Mahadevan, directors Madhur Bhandarkar and Subhash Ghai, and a host of actors covering Shefali Shah, Vipul Shah, Randeep Hooda, Lin Laishram, Aadinath Mangeshkar, composer Anu Malik and the famed singer Sonu Nigam.
Amitabh Bachchan, with his son Abhishek in tow, departed Mumbai for the temple city on Monday. Over at the temple premises, Amitabh was seen engaging with Arun Govil, who famously portrayed Lord Ram in the 1987 television series Ramayan. In these serene surroundings, the Bachchans had encounters with personalities such as BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad and industrialist Anil Ambani.
Adding their heartfelt wishes via video message were actors Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff, busy shooting their next film, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan. Akshay shared his joy, “It’s a big day for all devotees of Lord Ram across the world. After hundreds of years, Ram Lalla is returning to his abode in grandeur.” Tiger Shroff, too, expressed his eagerness to celebrate the momentous occasion, while his father Jackie Shroff planned to attend the ‘pran prathishtha.’
The consecration or ‘pran pratishtha’ ritual for the idol of Ram Lalla, the child form of Lord Ram, saw a diverse mix of attendees, including various spiritual leaders, tribal representatives, and renowned figures. With bells in hand, invitees prepared to take part in the aarti, while Army helicopters were commissioned to shower petals during the ceremony. Slated to start at 12:20 pm and wrap up around 1:00 pm, the event was followed by an address from the prime minister.
Veteran actor Anupam Kher reflected on the unity this day symbolized, remarking that beyond religious distinctions, the nation was united in the embodiment of Lord Ram’s virtues. Star Dipika Chikhlia, revered for her portrayal of Goddess Sita, likened the day to Diwali and extolled the government’s arrangements, expressing gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Kangana Ranaut marveled at the experience, her thoughts turning to the transformative powers of spirituality and the developmental strides taken by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s government. She prophesized Ayodhya’s ascension as a landmark surpassing even Vatican City’s renown.
Kailash Kher’s melodies and Vivek Oberoi’s presence further hallowed the ceremony, testament to the blending of ancient tradition with modern Indian cultural icons. As the city of Ayodhya celebrated this momentous occasion, the confluence of faith and film made for an unforgettable testament to the veneration of one of India’s most revered deities.
