Devotees in Kolkata offer puja, light up diyas to celebrate Ram Lalla consecration
Times of India | 23 January 2024
Kolkata: Several housing complexes, neighbourhood clubs, market and block committees across the city organised programmes and rituals to commemorate the consecration of the Ram idol in Ayodhya on Monday.
While some decorated their societies with marigold flowers, others organised pujas and distributed prasad. Several societies lit earthen lamps in the evening.Many market committees kept their establishments shut for a couple of hours to watch the live telecast of the rituals from Ayodhya while local clubs organised public events. Preparations for the programmes were done over the weekend.
“We put up saffron flags and lit up diyas on Sunday evening itself. On Monday afternoon, a small puja was organised,” said Sneha Banka, joint secretary of Riddhi Siddhi Complex in Sreebhumi off VIP Road.
Residents of Executive Palace in Baguiati lit up their complex with 1,100 diyas and distributed 101kgs of laddoos as prasad. “This is an auspicious occasion. We organised a puja to commemorate the occasion. All the residents of the complex came together to make this programme a success,” said Ankit Agarwal, secretary of Executive Palace.
Residents’ welfare associations started planning the programmes days in advance. Duties were divided among the residents to complete the preparations on time.
Hindustan Club organised Ram Mahotsav on Monday evening with Bhajan Sandhya Maaruti Mohataa and her troupe. “It is heartening to witness the collective devotion and spirit of unity that prevailed during the celebration. The ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Ram Lalla marks a significant chapter in our community's spiritual journey," said Narendra Kumar Tulsian, president of the club.
Hardware traders on Mahatma Gandhi Road organised a puja on Monday afternoon. “We cooked 100kgs khichdi and distributed them among the devotees,” said Sushil Oswal, president of the traders’ body.
Many market committees kept shops shut for a couple of hours on Monday afternoon and participated in rituals. They also put up saffron flags and played devotional music to commemorate the occasion.
Several clubs organised public programmes where local residents offered prayers in temples and partook prasads. Young Friends Club on BB Ganguly Street organised a public programme where the priest chanted religious verses. “We organised for the people to pray in a local temple. Volunteers were guiding them. We also distributed prasad,” said Biswanath Modak, a member of the club.
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