On Sunday morning, Ayodhya became the spiritual epicentre of India. Tens of thousands of devotees poured into the temple town to mark Ram Navami, the birthday of Lord Ram, with devotion, prayer and celebration.
The day began with ritual baths in the Saryu River, a tradition followed by pilgrims before entering the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple. The temple itself had been transformed into a visual spectacle—bright lights, intricate flower arrangements and chants filled the air.
A devotee at the site said, “…I am feeling very good after coming here… The arrangements here are very good…”
Another, who travelled from Varanasi, shared, “I have come from Varanasi to offer prayers at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple on the occasion of Ram Navami…”
Ram Navami 2025: Surya Tilak marks divine moment
The highlight of the day came precisely at 12 noon, when sunlight touched the forehead of Ram Lalla inside the sanctum. Known as the Surya Tilak, the celestial event was made possible through scientific alignment and architectural precision.
For many, this was a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Ayodhya officials anticipated a turnout of 20 to 30 lakh people, and preparations reflected that scale.
Crowd management inspired by Mahakumbh
The arrangements were drawn from lessons learnt during Mahakumbh 2025, ensuring crowd control and basic amenities on a mass scale.
Speaking on the preparations, Additional SP Madhuban Singh said, “People come in large numbers to offer prayers on the occasion of Ram Navami… Police personnel have been deployed in large numbers to ensure the safety and security of devotees… Proper parking arrangements have also been made…”
Divisional Commissioner Gaurav Dayal added, “To protect devotees from the sun and heat, arrangements have been made for shade and mats at the major places of Ayodhya Dham, including Ram Temple and Shri Hanumangarhi Darshan Marg.”
Civic teams work round the clock
Mayor Girishpati Tripathi and Municipal Commissioner Santosh Kumar Sharma conducted final reviews on Saturday. The focus was on cleanliness, hydration and safety.
Mats were laid along the Ram Path, and tents stretched from Shrungar Hata to Hanuman Garhi, offering shade. Sanitation teams were deployed for regular cleaning in the morning, afternoon, and evening.
To beat the April heat, ORS and cool drinking water stations were set up, free for all pilgrims.
The Ayodhya Mela area was divided into zones and sectors, with zonal magistrates, sector officers and gazetted police officers deployed. The NDRF and SDRF were stationed along the Saryu’s banks, on high alert.
Health support and traffic restrictions in place
To ensure health coverage, 14 temporary Primary Health Centres were created, staffed with doctors. 108 ambulances were also placed at seven key locations for emergency response.
Traffic restrictions were enforced from April 4 to April 7, with heavy vehicles, trucks, pickup trucks, and tractors barred from entering Ayodhya to prevent congestion.
The public broadcaster Doordarshan aired live visuals of the Ram Janmabhoomi festivities and cultural performances from Ram Katha Park, letting those at home take part in the spiritual energy.
The live broadcast captured everything—from the celestial Surya Tilak to the chants of “Jai Shri Ram” that echoed through the temple corridors.
Delhi temples celebrate with equal devotion
Beyond Ayodhya, celebrations lit up temples in the national capital as well.
At Jhandewalan Temple, decorations and lights welcomed devotees on the ninth day of Chaitra. A devotee said, “I offered prayers at the Jhandewalan temple for the first time and I am feeling very good and peaceful.”
Another added, “The arrangements at the temple are very good, and Mata Rani is blessing all the devotees.”
Morning aarti was held at the Shri Aadya Katyayani Shaktipith Mandir in Chhatarpur, with scores of worshippers gathering in reverence.
Ram Navami 2025 stood out not just for its scale, but for the seamless coordination behind it. Faith met preparation. Spirituality met public service.
Ayodhya handled a crowd in the millions without reports of major disruption. Clean water, shade, medical aid, and live broadcasts ensured that whether on foot or from afar, every devotee could take part in Ram Lalla’s birthday.
The day began with ritual baths in the Saryu River, a tradition followed by pilgrims before entering the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple. The temple itself had been transformed into a visual spectacle—bright lights, intricate flower arrangements and chants filled the air.
A devotee at the site said, “…I am feeling very good after coming here… The arrangements here are very good…”
Another, who travelled from Varanasi, shared, “I have come from Varanasi to offer prayers at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple on the occasion of Ram Navami…”
#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh | Devotees continue to arrive in large numbers at Ayodhya's Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple on the occasion of Ram Navami. pic.twitter.com/gyt0mqkldY
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2025
Ram Navami 2025: Surya Tilak marks divine moment
The highlight of the day came precisely at 12 noon, when sunlight touched the forehead of Ram Lalla inside the sanctum. Known as the Surya Tilak, the celestial event was made possible through scientific alignment and architectural precision.
For many, this was a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Ayodhya officials anticipated a turnout of 20 to 30 lakh people, and preparations reflected that scale.
#WATCH | Ayodhya, UP | Hanuman Garhi temple priest Mahant Raju Das says, "Devotees in large numbers are offering prayers at the temple on the occasion of Ram Navami...Today is the birthday of Lord Ram and I extend best wishes to all the devotees...I will pray for the welfare of… https://t.co/i9otfXl2IE pic.twitter.com/c4PcKn5Gxb
— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2025
Crowd management inspired by Mahakumbh
The arrangements were drawn from lessons learnt during Mahakumbh 2025, ensuring crowd control and basic amenities on a mass scale.
Speaking on the preparations, Additional SP Madhuban Singh said, “People come in large numbers to offer prayers on the occasion of Ram Navami… Police personnel have been deployed in large numbers to ensure the safety and security of devotees… Proper parking arrangements have also been made…”
Divisional Commissioner Gaurav Dayal added, “To protect devotees from the sun and heat, arrangements have been made for shade and mats at the major places of Ayodhya Dham, including Ram Temple and Shri Hanumangarhi Darshan Marg.”
Civic teams work round the clock
Mayor Girishpati Tripathi and Municipal Commissioner Santosh Kumar Sharma conducted final reviews on Saturday. The focus was on cleanliness, hydration and safety.
Mats were laid along the Ram Path, and tents stretched from Shrungar Hata to Hanuman Garhi, offering shade. Sanitation teams were deployed for regular cleaning in the morning, afternoon, and evening.
To beat the April heat, ORS and cool drinking water stations were set up, free for all pilgrims.
The Ayodhya Mela area was divided into zones and sectors, with zonal magistrates, sector officers and gazetted police officers deployed. The NDRF and SDRF were stationed along the Saryu’s banks, on high alert.
Health support and traffic restrictions in place
To ensure health coverage, 14 temporary Primary Health Centres were created, staffed with doctors. 108 ambulances were also placed at seven key locations for emergency response.
Traffic restrictions were enforced from April 4 to April 7, with heavy vehicles, trucks, pickup trucks, and tractors barred from entering Ayodhya to prevent congestion.
The public broadcaster Doordarshan aired live visuals of the Ram Janmabhoomi festivities and cultural performances from Ram Katha Park, letting those at home take part in the spiritual energy.
The live broadcast captured everything—from the celestial Surya Tilak to the chants of “Jai Shri Ram” that echoed through the temple corridors.
Delhi temples celebrate with equal devotion
Beyond Ayodhya, celebrations lit up temples in the national capital as well.
At Jhandewalan Temple, decorations and lights welcomed devotees on the ninth day of Chaitra. A devotee said, “I offered prayers at the Jhandewalan temple for the first time and I am feeling very good and peaceful.”
Another added, “The arrangements at the temple are very good, and Mata Rani is blessing all the devotees.”
Morning aarti was held at the Shri Aadya Katyayani Shaktipith Mandir in Chhatarpur, with scores of worshippers gathering in reverence.
Ram Navami 2025 stood out not just for its scale, but for the seamless coordination behind it. Faith met preparation. Spirituality met public service.
Ayodhya handled a crowd in the millions without reports of major disruption. Clean water, shade, medical aid, and live broadcasts ensured that whether on foot or from afar, every devotee could take part in Ram Lalla’s birthday.
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