Ram Mandir fever grips US, Europe: Times Square, Eiffel Tower to host events

WHILE India is gearing up for the consecration of Ram Mandir in the holy town of Ayodhya in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh on January 22, the fever has gripped not only Indians in the country but also those located abroad.

The upcoming event will be witnessed at iconic places across the world, including Times Square in New York and the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. In the French capital, a Ram Rath Yatra (chariot procession of Lord Ram) will be held on the eve of the event, attracting participants from across Europe. Festivities are also expected to happen near the Eiffel Tower.

Similarly, massive car rallies are being organised in cities in the US, such as California, Washington, Chicago and others.

Avinash Mishra, an Indian who lives in Paris, shared details about the Ram Rath Yatra on social media.

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“Residing in France, we Indians in Paris will participate in the grand celebration of the Ram Rath Yatra and festivities on a large scale at the Eiffel Tower, marking the historic and significant occasion of the consecration of the Lord Ram Temple in Ayodhya," he wrote.

He also shared the map of the yatra in his post and extended an invitation to the devotees of Lord Ram living in Paris to join the event.

Read: Indian community activist in US elated over India allowing diaspora members to contribute to Ram Mandir

The Hindu Mandir Empowerment Council, a non-governmental and non-profit organisation, has decided to hold prayers and festivals in temples in North America, including Canada.

The consecration ceremony will be live-streamed at Times Square in New York City. On August 5, 2020, a digital billboard featuring Ram Temple was displayed at Times Square during its groundbreaking ceremony.

New York mayor Eric Adams said the upcoming event is of great significance for the Hindu community in the Big Apple. He saw it as a big opportunity for them to celebrate and elevate their spirituality.

Hindu right-wing outfit Vishwa Hindu Parishad has also outlined plans to organise events on the occasion in more than 50 countries and the consecration ceremony will be live-streamed from all the locations.

Countries such as the UK, Ireland, Germany, Mauritius, Indonesia, Fiji and others have also been included. Representatives from 50 countries have also been invited to the occasion.

As per VHP, there are 160 nations worldwide where Hindu devotees live, and various programmes are being conducted on their soil to commemorate the occasion, including live-streaming of the procession, recitation of Hanuman Chalisa and ‘pran pratishtha’ (consecration).