Lakhs Throng Hanuman Temples On Ram Navami

Patna: The city reverberated with ‘Ram naam (name)' on Sunday, as the nation celebrated Ram Navami, said to be the birth anniversary of the Lord, with temples having ‘bhajan-kirtan' and Ramayan recital throughout the day.
The day started with thousands thronging temples to seek the blessings of Lord Ram, considered Vishnu's seventh avatar in Indian mythology.
Patna's iconic Mahavir Mandir opened its gates for devotees at 2am, with approximately 10,000 people waiting in queue stretching 4km since Saturday night. After the gates were opened, the temple premises resonated with devotional chants of ‘Jai Siya Ram' and ‘Jai Hanuman', followed by the ceremonial aarti to the beats of drum and other rituals. The temple is famous for its twin Hanuman idols.
At noon, flower petals were showered on Ramlala's painting in the courtyard of the temple premises, following which ‘Janm (birth) aarti' was held. Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, a member of the temple's trust, and late IPS officer Kishore Kunal's son Sayan, along with his MP wife Shambhavi Choudhary and mother Anita Kunal, among other dignitaries, attended the religious ceremony.
The temple's superintendent, K Sudhakaran, said they anticipated five lakh devotees to visit the temple by midnight on Ram Navami. "The rituals were performed by 12 priests from Ayodhya, with four stationed near each Hanuman idol. Meanwhile, all Mahavir flags on the temple premises have been changed after noon, which is considered the birth time of Lord Ram. Besides, Hanuman Chalisa was distributed among two lakh devotees," he said.
On the occasion 20,000km Naivedyam ladoos were prepared and sold through 13 counters set up outside the temple.
On the other hand, historic Jalla Hanuman temple in Patna City opened its gates at 3am with Mangalaarti, drawing a large number of devotees. According to temple manager Balaji, about two lakh devotees were expected to visit throughout the day.
"A pandal has been erected for providing shade to the devotees standing in queues outside the temple, besides we have made facilities for refreshments and e-rickshaws for old and specially-abled devotees. Prasad was also distributed among them. Special arrangements have been made for security with 100 CCTV cameras and barricading around the premises. Volunteers and 30 private security personnel have been deployed for crowd control," the manager said.
Ramayan and Hanuman Chalisa recitation was on along with the rituals on the temple premises.
A devotee, Anshu Kumari, said she, along with her family, visited the Jalla Hanuman temple in the morning to seek the blessing of Bajrangbali. "After the puja, we put a Mahavir flag at the feet of the Lord, before taking it home," she said.
A procession featuring the life of Lord Ram was also taken out by Shri Ram Janmotsav Samiti from the auditorium at Mangal Talab in Patna City to Gaighat's Gaurishankar Temple, with devotees marching with Mahavir flag.
Additionally, Shri Prem Nidhi Roop Kala Smarak Panch Mandir on Daroga Rai Path hosted special Ram Navami celebrations. Brahmins recited Ramcharitmanas, while bhajans and sohar (traditional song sung by women on birth of a male child) were performed. The celebrations started six days ago and culminated with Ramlala's grand ‘Chhatti Puja' (ceremony performed six days after birth) at 9pm on the day.