Surya Tilak' illuminates Ram Lalla at Ayodhya

New Delhi/Ayodhya: The "Surya tilak" of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya was performed on Wednesday afternoon on the occasion of Ram Navami using an elaborate mechanism involving mirrors and lenses by which sunbeams were directed on the forehead of the Lord Ram idol. Calling it an "emotional moment", Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "May this Surya tilak bring energy to our lives".

In his Ram Navami greetings, the Prime Minister said that Ayodhya is in incomparable bliss, as this is the first time the festival is being celebrated there after the consecration of the Ram temple on January 22 this year.
In a post on X, Mr Modi said, "After my Nalbari (Assam) rally, I watched the Surya tilak of Ram Lalla. Like crores of Indians, this is a very emotional moment for me. The grand Ram Navami in Ayodhya is historic. May this Surya tilak bring energy to our lives and may it inspire our nation to scale new heights and glory.”
The Prime Minister also shared pictures of him watching the Surya tilak on an electronic device.

The Surya tilak of Ram Lalla was executed at 12:00 pm. The devotees waiting outside the sanctum sanctorum hailed slogans of Lord Ram during the Surya tilak while the priests conducted "aarti" inside.

According to a senior scientist of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research --Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee, the planned tilak size was 58 mm. The exact period of tilak on the forehead centre was about three to three-and-a-half minutes, with two minutes of full illumination.

The Prime Minister said: “The first Ram Navami after the pran pratishtha in Ayodhya is a generational milestone, weaving together centuries of devotion with a new era of hope and progress. This is the day crores of Indians waited for. Innumerable people devoted their lives to this sacred cause. May the blessings of Prabhu Shri Ram always remain upon us and guide our paths towards righteousness and peace, illuminating our lives with wisdom and courage.”

As per an official statement, a crown made of sustainable precious gemstones was adorned by the idol of Ram Lalla on the occasion. The crown was made by Apple Green Diamond, a firm that specialises in recrystallized gems.

District officials said that thousands of devotees began queuing at the temple even before the break of dawn to offer prayers. Special arrangements were made to accommodate them.