From Dreams to Darbar: Ram Mandir - A Manifestation of India's Enduring Quest for Faith and Identity

The Ram temple in Ayodhya is an object of faith for millions of Indians and the joyful mood of today's India is clearly visible in Ayodhya. It is both a celebration of progress and a celebration of tradition. The splendor of development is being seen everywhere in the city of Ayodhya. The construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya and the consecration of Lord Ram Lalla are moments of our proud faith. Amidst all these festivities, one cannot help but see how the Modi government has ensured that the event is not just for the moment; Its impact remains in the life of every Indian for a long time.

Ram Lalla's life offering is not a mere ritual or the satisfaction of centuries of expectations and aspirations; It is also a preparation for India's future aspirations. It depicts India's iconic confluence of cultural, socio-economic and spiritual diversity in rituals. The grand celebration in Ayodhya is not only a representation of the religious fervor of millions of Indians, but is also an attempt to attract the entire world to the myriad opportunities of employment and prosperity hidden in Ayodhya's spiritual and cultural heritage.

The Government of India has ensured that the Abhishek ceremony reflects Indian culture and opens the doors of devotion to Ram devotees. Taking a cue from it, Indians living abroad in countries like US, France, UK etc. have taken it upon themselves to ensure that January 22 is celebrated as an important day.

Under the leadership of PM Modi, India has become a country that actively incorporates soft diplomacy in its foreign policy and the celebration of the Ram temple is an example of this. It has been confirmed that the event will be livestreamed in more than 50 countries, including 300 locations in the US and 25, 30, 30 and 100 locations in the UK, Australia, Canada and Mauritius. Representatives from fifty countries have been invited, including the US, Canada, Germany and Fiji. Meanwhile, global devotees of Lord Ram are vouching for the realization of the long awaited dream of a Ram temple in a grand celebration after 500 years of struggle. Ram Lalla's coronation ceremony will be telecast live in Indian embassies around the world and in New York's Times Square.

Experts on diplomatic issues say the enthusiasm seen in New Delhi's foreign embassies and foreign media is a sign that the Ram temple in Ayodhya is capable of changing global perception of the issue.

The economic side of the phenomenon
There is no denying that the development of new Ayodhya under the leadership of PM Modi will go ahead to boost the prosperity of the entire country along with its legacy. This shows a serious effort to embody the principles of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Purayas”. Efforts are also being made to spread the message of development, heritage and social engineering through events in Ayodhya.

Once the temple is inaugurated, it will have a significant impact on the local economy. According to reports, the expected increase in temple tourism, along with the long-seen increase in demand for related products and services, will give a tremendous boost to the business and potentially cross ₹10,000 crore in Ayodhya alone. According to numerous local vendors, Ayodhya is no longer just a birthplace; It has become one of India's most revered pilgrimage sites, and the temple town's local economy is poised to benefit from its influence.

It may be noted that the GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) of Uttar Pradesh in the financial year 2021-22 was Rs 11.81 lakh crore. Ayodhya's contribution to the state's total state domestic product was 0.94 percent. This was the case when, in 2021-22, Ayodhya's district domestic product recorded an increase of 2.42 percent over the previous financial year.

Not only economically, but the Ram temple has brought spiritual awareness to every Indian. The celebrations organized across India are a display of people's faith in Lord Rama. Moreover, for every Indian, the Prana Pratistha ceremony at the Ram temple is an important spiritual achievement, as people from all states across the country are happy and feel proud to see the realization of a long-standing aspiration. The event goes beyond religion; It embodies the common cultural heritage of India and the temple holds great significance for all Indians, transcending regional and religious distinctions.