LIVE | Ram Lalla consecrated; advent of new era, says PM Modi
Feel I am luckiest person: Sculptor Arun Yogiraj
Mysuru-based sculptor Arun Yogiraj, who chiselled the 'Ram Lalla' idol consecrated in the newly constructed temple in Ayodhya, on Monday, says he considers himself the luckiest person on the earth and believes that it is Lord Ram who chose him for the task.
"I have always felt that Lord Ram has been shielding me and my family from all the bad times and I strongly believe that it is him, who chose me for the auspicious task," Yogiraj, who has received effusive praise for his work, told PTI.
A fifth-generation sculptor, he was among the invitees to the grand consecration ceremony here.
"I spent sleepless nights working on the idol with precision but it was all worth it. I feel I am the luckiest person on the earth and today is the best day of my life,” an excited "I learnt the art of sculpting from my father. He would have been very proud to see my idol here today," he said.
While it was a proud moment for him to witness the historic event in person, his family back in Mysuru witnessed the ceremony live on TV.
Devotee suffers heart attack, IAF's mobile hospital saves him
In a timely medical intervention, a mobile hospital of the IAF's rapid response team saved a devotee who suffered a heart attack while attending the 'Pran Pratishtha' event at the Ram temple in Ayodhya on Monday, reports PTI.
After Ramkrishna Srivastava (65) collapsed inside the temple complex, a team of BHISHM Cube led by Wing Commander Manish Gupta evacuated him within a minute of the incident and provided on-site treatment, capitalising on the critical golden hour -- the first hour following a traumatic injury or medical event which is crucial for successful emergency treatment, a statement said.
Upon initial assessment, it was found that Srivastava's blood pressure level had shot up to dangerously high level of 210/170 mm Hg, it added.
The rapid response team provided him preliminary treatment at the site. Once the patient's condition stabilised, he was taken to the civil hospital for further observation and specialised care, according to the statement.
Two Cube-BHISHM mobile hospitals under the Arogya Maitri Disaster Management project were deployed in Ayodhya to bolster medical readiness and response capabilities for the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony, according to a statement of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued on Sunday.
These mobile hospitals are equipped with several innovative tools designed to enhance disaster response and medical support during emergencies, the statement added.
Gifts for Ram temple ceremony guests
A book on Ayodhya, a metal 'diya', a special 'mala' and a scarf bearing the name of Lord Ram are among the items that have been gifted to the guests who attended the consecration ceremony at the temple in Ayodhya on Monday.
The gifts were in a bag that had a striking graphic image of the new temple and of Lord Ram in a very young avatar.
Guests were welcomed at the venue with a vibrant floral decoration of the temple complex.
A special set of items have been gifted to guests which include a book on Ayodhya, a metal 'diya', a Tulsi 'mala' and a scarf bearing the name of Lord Ram, sources said.
The book is titled 'Ayodhya Dham - The Lord's Abode' which also carries the image of the old idol of Ram Lalla on its cover.
The 'mala' has come up with a fabric pouch that bears 'Uttar Pradesh Tourism' and its tagline.
The guests also received a box of four laddoos, chips, revdi, cashew nuts and raisins.
Celebrations in Bihar
Special prayers at various temples were held and processions were taken out in Bihar's capital Patna on Monday as part of the celebrations of the Ram Mandir consecration in Ayodhya.
Temples have been decorated with flowers, while thousands of 'diyas' would be lit up in the evening to mark the occasion.
Women devotees of Lord Ram with religious flags started 'kirtan' (devotional songs) at the Hanuman Mandir in Priyadarshi Nagar on Bailey Road in Patna while Sri Krishna Pranami Temple took out a religious procession with many people carrying ‘Kalash’.