Marking a momentous occasion in the nation’s socio-cultural and spiritual landscape, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ceremonially hoisted a saffron flag on the Shikhar of the sacred Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh today. The  Dhwajarohan Utsav symbolises the completion of the temple’s construction and ushering in a new chapter of cultural celebration and national unity. Addressing a gathering on the occasion, the Prime Minister stated that today the city of Ayodhya is witnessing yet another pinnacle of India’s cultural consciousness. “Today the entire India and the entire world is filled with the spirit of Lord Shri Ram”, remarked Shri Modi, highlighting that in the heart of every devotee of Ram there is unique satisfaction, boundless gratitude, and immense transcendental joy. He emphasized that centuries‑old wounds are healing, centuries of pain are coming to an end, and centuries of resolve are attaining fulfillment today. He declared that this marks the culmination of a yajna whose fire remained ignited for 500 years, a yajna that never wavered in faith, never broke in belief even for a moment. He underlined that today the infinite energy of Lord Shri Ram’s sanctum and the divine glory of Shri Ram’s family have been enshrined in the form of this Dharma Dhwaja in the most divine and grand temple. 

“This Dharma Dhwaja is not merely a flag, but the flag of the renaissance of Indian civilization”, stressed Shri Moi, explaining that its saffron color, the glory of the Solar dynasty inscribed upon it, the sacred Om depicted, and the engraved Kovidar tree symbolize the greatness of Ram Rajya. He affirmed that this flag is resolve, this flag is success, this flag is the saga of creation through struggle, this flag is the embodiment of dreams carried forward for centuries, and this flag is the meaningful culmination of the penance of saints and the participation of society.

Declaring that for centuries and millennia to come, this Dharma Dhwaja will proclaim the ideals and principles of Lord Ram, Shri Modi emphasized that it will call out victory belongs only to truth, not to falsehood. He highlighted that it will proclaim that truth itself is the form of Brahma and that in truth alone dharma is established. He remarked that this Dharma Dhwaja will inspire the resolve of what is spoken must be fulfilled. He underlined that it will convey the message affirming that in the world, karma and duty must hold primacy. He stated that it will express the wish meaning freedom from discrimination and suffering, and the presence of peace and happiness in society. He stressed that this Dharma Dhwaja will commit us to the resolve that we must build a society where there is no poverty, and no one is sad or helpless.

Recalling our scriptures, Shri Modi said those who, for any reason, cannot come to the temple but bow before its flag also attain equal merit. He emphasized that this Dharma Dhwaja is a symbol of the temple’s purpose, and from afar it will provide the vision of Ram Lalla’s birthplace while carrying Lord Shri Ram’s commands and inspirations to humanity for ages to come. He extended heartfelt greetings to crores of Ram devotees across the world on this unforgettable and unique occasion. He bowed to all devotees and expressed gratitude to every donor who contributed to the construction of the Ram Mandir. He saluted every worker, every artisan, every planner, and every architect associated with the temple’s construction.

“Ayodhya is the land where ideals transform into conduct”, emphasised the Prime Minister, stating that this is the city from where Shri Ram began his life’s journey. He highlighted that Ayodhya showed the world how an individual, through the strength of society and its values, becomes Purushottam. He recalled that when Shri Ram left Ayodhya for exile, he was Yuvaraj Ram, but when he returned, he came back as ‘Maryada Purushottam’. He emphasized that in Shri Ram’s becoming Maryada Purushottam, the knowledge of Maharshi Vashishtha, the initiation of Maharshi Vishwamitra, the guidance of Maharshi Agastya, the friendship of Nishadraj, the affection of Mother Shabari, and the devotion of Bhakt Hanuman all played an important role.

Emphasizing that the collective strength of society is essential for building a developed India, Shri Modi expressed happiness that the divine courtyard of the Ram Mandir is becoming a consciousness site of India’s collective power. He highlighted that seven temples have been built here, including the temple of Mata Shabari, which embodies the love and hospitality traditions of the tribal community. The Prime Minister further noted the temple of Nishadraj, which stands as a witness to friendship that worships not the means but the purpose and its sentiment. He pointed out that in one place there are Mata Ahalya, Maharshi Valmiki, Maharshi Vashishtha, Maharshi Vishwamitra, Maharshi Agastya, and Sant Tulsidas, whose presence alongside Ram Lalla offers devotees their darshan. He mentioned the statues of Jatayu Ji and the squirrel, which demonstrate the importance of even the smallest efforts in achieving great resolutions. He urged every citizen that whenever they visit the Ram Mandir, they must also visit the seven temples. He underlined that these temples, along with strengthening our faith, also empower the values of friendship, duty, and social harmony.

“Our Ram connects not through differences but through emotions”, affirmed Shri Modi stressing that for Shri Ram, a person’s devotion is more important than lineage, values are dearer than ancestry, and cooperation is greater than mere strength. He remarked that today we too are moving forward with the same spirit. He highlighted that in the past 11 years, women, Dalits, backward classes, tribals, the deprived, farmers, workers, and youth—every section of society—has been placed at the center of development. He emphasized that when every individual, every section, and every region of the nation is empowered, then everyone’s effort will contribute to the fulfillment of the resolve, and it is through these collective efforts that by 2047 a developed India will be built.

Reflecting on the historic occasion of Ram Lalla’s Pran Pratishtha, the Prime Minister had spoken of linking the nation’s resolve with Lord Ram and reminded that India’s foundation must be strengthened for the coming thousand years. He stressed that those who think only of the present commit injustice to future generations, and that we must think not only of today but also of the generations to come, for the nation existed before us and will continue even after us. He emphasized that as a vibrant society we must work with foresight, keeping in mind the coming decades and centuries, and for this we must learn from Lord Ram—understand His personality, imbibe His conduct, and remember that Ram signifies ideals, discipline, and the supreme character of life. Ram is the confluence of truth and valor, the embodiment of walking the path of dharma, the one who places the happiness of the people above all, the ocean of patience and forgiveness, the pinnacle of knowledge and wisdom, the firmness within gentleness, the highest example of gratitude, the chooser of noble company, the humility within great strength, the unwavering resolve of truth, and the alert, disciplined, and sincere mind. These qualities of Ram, he added, must guide us in building a strong, visionary, and enduring India.

“Ram is not merely a person but a value, a discipline, and a direction”, affirmed Shri Modi, declaring that if India is to become developed by 2047 and society is to be empowered, then Ram must be awakened within each of us, consecrated in our own hearts. He emphasized that there could be no better day than today to take such a resolve. He noted that 25 November has brought yet another extraordinary moment of pride in our heritage, symbolized by the Kovidar tree inscribed upon the Dharma Dhwaja. He explained that the Kovidar tree stands as a reminder that when we sever ourselves from our roots, our glory gets buried in the pages of history.

The Prime Minister recalled the episode when Bharat reached Chitrakoot with his army and Lakshman, from afar, recognized Ayodhya’s forces. Shri Modi stated the description by Valmiki that Lakshman told Ram that the radiant, towering flag resembling a great tree was Ayodhya’s, marked with the auspicious symbol of the Kovidar. He emphasized that today, as the Kovidar is once again consecrated in the courtyard of the Ram Mandir, it is not merely the return of a tree but the return of memory, the resurgence of identity, and the renewed proclamation of a proud civilization. The Kovidar reminds us that when we forget our identity, we lose ourselves, but when identity returns, the nation’s confidence also returns. He concluded that for the country to move forward, it must take pride in its heritage.

Emphasising that along with pride in our heritage, complete liberation from the mentality of slavery is equally important, the Prime Minister recalled that 190 years ago, in 1835, an English parliamentarian named Macaulay sowed the seeds of uprooting India from its roots and laid the foundation of mental slavery. He noted that in 2035, two hundred years will have passed since that event, and urged that the coming ten years must be dedicated to freeing India from this mentality. He lamented that the greatest misfortune is that Macaulay’s ideas had a widespread impact—India attained independence, but not freedom from inferiority complexes. He observed that a distortion took hold, where everything foreign was considered superior, while our own traditions and systems were seen only with fault.

Shri Modi further stressed that the mentality of slavery kept reinforcing the notion that India borrowed democracy from abroad and that even the Constitution was foreign-inspired, whereas the truth is that India is the mother of democracy and democracy is in our DNA. He pointed out that a village of Uttiramerur in northern Tamil Nadu, where a thousand-year-old inscription describes how governance was conducted democratically and how people elected their rulers even in that era. He noted that while the Magna Carta was widely praised, the knowledge of Lord Basavanna’s Anubhava Mantapa was kept limited. He explained that the Anubhava Mantapa was a forum where social, religious, and economic issues were publicly debated and decisions were taken through collective consensus. He lamented that because of the mentality of slavery, generations in India were deprived of this knowledge about their own democratic traditions.

The Prime Minister observed that the mentality of slavery had entrenched itself in every corner of our system. He reminded that for centuries the flag of the Indian Navy bore symbols that had no connection with India’s civilization, strength, or heritage. He emphasized that now every symbol of slavery has been removed from the naval flag and the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has been established. He underlined that this was not merely a change in design but a moment of transformation in mindset, a declaration that India will henceforth define its strength through its own symbols, not through the legacy of others.

Shri Modi added that the same transformation is visible today in Ayodhya. He stressed that it was this mentality of slavery that for so many years denied the essence of Ramatva. Shri Modi underlined that  Lord Ram, is in Himself a complete value system—from Raja Ram of Orchha to Bhakt Ram of Rameshwaram, from Shabari’s Prabhu Ram to Mithila’s Pahuna Ram Ji. Ram resides in every home, in every Indian heart, and in every particle of Bharat. Yet, he lamented, the mentality of slavery became so dominant that even Lord Ram was declared imaginary.

Asserting that if we resolve to free ourselves completely from the mentality of slavery within the next ten years, Shri Modi underlined that then such a flame of confidence will be ignited that no force will be able to stop the realization of the dream of Viksit Bharat by 2047. He emphasized that the foundation of India for the coming thousand years will be strong only when Macaulay’s project of mental slavery is entirely dismantled within the next decade. He highlighted that the Ram Lalla temple complex in Ayodhya is becoming ever more magnificent, and the work of beautifying Ayodhya continues apace. He declared that Ayodhya is once again becoming the city that will serve as an example for the world. He reflected that in the Treta Yuga, Ayodhya gave humanity its code of conduct, and in the 21st century, Ayodhya is offering humanity a new model of development. He further added that then Ayodhya was the center of discipline, and now Ayodhya is emerging as the backbone of a developed India.

The Prime Minister envisioned that in the future Ayodhya will embody a confluence of tradition and modernity, where the sacred flow of the Sarayu and the stream of development will run together. He emphasized that Ayodhya will showcase harmony between spirituality and artificial intelligence. He noted that Ram Path, Bhakti Path, and Janmabhoomi Path together present the vision of a new Ayodhya. He highlighted the grand airport and the magnificent railway station, with Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat Express trains connecting Ayodhya to the rest of the country. He stressed that continuous work is being done to provide facilities to the people of Ayodhya and bring prosperity to their lives. He pointed out that since the Pran Pratishtha, nearly 45 crore devotees have visited for darshan, which has increased the income of people in Ayodhya and surrounding areas. He stated that once Ayodhya lagged behind on development parameters, but today it is emerging as one of the leading cities of Uttar Pradesh.

Underscoring that the coming era of the 21st century is very important, Shri Modi He highlighted that in the 70 years after independence India became the world’s 11th largest economy, but in the last 11 years alone India has risen to become the 5th largest economy. He stated that the day is not far when India will also become the world’s 3rd largest economy. He emphasized that the coming time is one of new opportunities and new possibilities, and in this crucial period the thoughts of Lord Ram will continue to inspire the nation. The Prime Minister explained that when Lord Shri Ram faced the great challenge of victory over Ravan, the chariot required valor and patience as its wheels, its flag was truth and good conduct, its horses were strength, wisdom, restraint and benevolence, and its reins were forgiveness, compassion and equality, which kept the chariot moving in the right direction.

The Prime Minister remarked that to accelerate the journey of a developed India, such a chariot is needed whose wheels are valor and patience, meaning the courage to face challenges and the perseverance to remain steadfast until results are achieved. He highlighted that the flag of this chariot must be truth and the highest conduct, signifying that policy, intent, and morality should never be compromised. He stated that the horses of this chariot must be strength, wisdom, discipline, and benevolence, meaning there should be power, intellect, restraint, and a spirit of serving others. He emphasized that the reins of this chariot must be forgiveness, compassion, and equality, meaning there should be no arrogance in success and respect for others even in failure. Shri Modi said with reverence that this moment is one of standing shoulder to shoulder, of increasing momentum, and of building a Bharat inspired by Ram Rajya. He concluded that this is possible only when national interest remains supreme over self-interest, and once again extended his heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to all.

Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Smt. Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath, Sarsanghchalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Dr. Mohan Bhagwat were present among other dignitaries at the event.

Background

The programme is taking place on the auspicious Panchami of the Shukla Paksha in the month of Margashirsha, coinciding with the Abhijit Muhurat of Shri Ram and Maa Sita’s Vivah Panchami, a day symbolizing divine union. This date also marks the martyrdom day of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji, the ninth Sikh Guru, who meditated in Ayodhya for 48 uninterrupted hours in the 17th century, further enhancing the spiritual significance of the day.

The right-angled triangular flag, measuring ten feet in height and twenty feet in length, bears the image of a radiant Sun symbolizing the brilliance and valour of Bhagwan Shri Ram,  with an ‘Om’ inscribed on it along with image of Kovidara tree. The sacred saffron flag will convey a message of dignity, unity, and cultural continuity, embodying the ideals of Ram Rajya.

The flag will rise atop a Shikhar constructed in the traditional North Indian Nagara architectural style, while the surrounding 800-metre Parkota,  a circumambulatory enclosure built around the temple, designed in the South Indian architectural tradition, showcases the temple’s architectural diversity.

The temple complex features 87 intricately carved stone episodes from the life of Bhagwan Shri Ram based on the Valmiki Ramayana on the outer walls of the main temple, and 79 bronze-cast episodes from Indian culture placed along the enclosure walls. Together, these elements provide a meaningful and educational experience to all visitors, offering deep insight into Bhagwan Shri Ram’s life and the cultural heritage of India.

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MJPS/SR