The much-anticipated and awaited moment in the cultural history of India was marked by the flag hoisting on the Ram Mandir on 25th November, Tuesday. PM Modi hoisted the Saffron flag or the Dharm Dhwaja marking the completion of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
After hoisting the triangular saffron flag, measuring 10 feet high and 20 feet long with an image of the sun that symbolised the bravery and courage of Shri Ram, PM Modi said that Ayodhya was witnessing a turning point in the cultural consciousness of the country. During his speech, he mentioned that the moment is joyful and spiritually valuable for every devotee and that it marks a healing of a wound that had been inflicted on us for centuries.
He also pointed out that the 500-year-long conflict has ended as the sanctum sanctorum of the temple bearing the idol of Lord Ram has been enshrined today, as the Dharma Dhwaj is hoisted atop the temple. Other important people, including the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Aditya Nath, and the governor of the state, Anandiben Patel, were present during the ceremony.
Talking about the temple as a point that marks our departure from ‘mental slavery’, PM Modi said that in 1835, Macaulay sowed the seeds of English superiority and mental slavery in the country, which has lingered despite political freedom. He said that the concept of mental slavery has made India believe that democracy is also borrowed from abroad when, in reality, it is a part of our heritage and history, “ingrained in our DNA”.
He further describes the Dharma Dhwaj as a symbol of bravery, success, and determination. The flag, which is visible from a distance, is described by the Prime Minister as a symbol of Lord Ram’s ideals. The sacred courtyard, remarked the prime minister, will be seen as a symbol of the country’s strength. It includes seven temples dedicated to Maa Ahalya, Maa Shabri and Nishadraj Guhya, Maharishi Valmiki, Maharishi Vashistha, Maharishi Vishwamitra, Maharishi Agastya, and Saint Tulsidas.
