Sunday, January 21, 2024 - Despite the biting cold, with windchill temperatures reaching 20 degrees, nearly 350 Americans of diverse nationalities and religious backgrounds congregated at Times Square in a remarkable display of cultural unity and spiritual fervor. Participants, hailing from Guyana, Trinidad, Surinam, Canada, and America and representing faiths such as Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism, braved the elements to celebrate the Pran Prathistha of Lord Shri Ram's idol at his birthplace temple in Ayodhya, India. This event marked a historic moment, as the Ram Temple is being rebuilt after 500 years, a milestone that holds immense significance for the global Hindu community.

The air at Times Square buzzed with excitement and devotion as people of all ages, including young children dressed as figures from the Ramayana, like Lord Ram, Hanuman, and Sita, participated in the celebration. The event was characterized by the singing of bhajans, the beating of dhols, and the vibrant display of flags, creating an atmosphere of joy and reverence.

Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, renowned spiritual leader and Secretary General of the Global Interfaith WASH Alliance delivered an enlightening address at this event where she shared profound insights into the essence of Shri Ram's life and teachings.

"In the teachings of Shri Ram, we find a timeless guide on how-to live-in dharma with love. This temple is not just a Ram Mandir; it's a Rashtriya Mandir, a national temple that encapsulates the essence of our rich cultural heritage," remarked Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati.

She further encouraged individuals to reflect on the values represented by the Rashtriya Mandir, fostering a deeper understanding of the cultural fabric that binds the nation together.

This significant event was coordinated by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA), a leading organization committed to preserving and promoting Hindu values and culture in the United States. Numerous Hindu organizations, including the various temples, Sri Radha Gopinath Temple, Hare Krishna Movement NJ and NY  and Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, provided ground support and were instrumental in the smooth execution of the event.  The celebration at Times Square was part of a larger, nationwide commemoration, with around 900 temples across the US celebrating Lord Shri Ram’s arrival in the new temple at their respective locations.

The event was not just a celebration of religious significance; it was also a powerful demonstration of the multicultural and pluralistic fabric of American society. People from various backgrounds came together to share in a moment of joy that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries.

On the occasion of Shri Ram Ayodhya temple Pran Pratishtha, Dallas had a grand celebrations with more than 30+ Hindu organizations/ Temples participating. Some key highlights are : 

Dallas had a grand celebrations with more than 30+ Hindu organizations/ Temples participating. Some key highlights are : 

• Car rally covering multiple temples, 200 cars and 700 Ram devotees participated in the rally.

• 17 temples in Dallas DFW area held special celebrations, attracting large devotee.

• Some temples live-streamed Pran Pratishtha, while others organized. 

• Cultural program, Ramayan plays, Shree Ram Abhishek ceremonies

A unique thing that we observed was everyone worked collectively. We started at Hindu Temple, Shawnee. Palakhi went to BAPS (walking). BAPS organized wonderful Bhajan, followed by Swamiji’s address and Ram Aararti. Palakhi with poojaks (including baps) came back to HTCC again where they were greeted with Dhol Tasha for about 8-10 minutes. Hall at Hindu temple was decorated beautifully where pathway was lit with batter lamps, a thermocol model of Ram Mandir model was one of the attractions. The program at Hindu Temple started with Ramaraksha, followed by Pandit ji addressing us with beautiful Bhajans and Katha. An iskon representative addressed us with some Rama Bhajan, a Sikh was on dholak when live Raam walked in. Jaya Ghosh, Shakha Dhwani, Bhajans, it was Raamamaya. 4 kids dressed as Ram-Seeta-Lakshman-Hanuman walked in. Ended with everyone (about 800+) poojaks offering Namaskar to Murti, collected fruit Prasad and dinner Prasad. All happened in a beautiful disciplined manner. Left with wide smiles on all faces and a victorious emotions. HSS looked after Vyavastha, decorations, Prasad cooking, serving, etc.

A lively car rally, featuring 23 cars, in anticipation of the upcoming Ram Mandir Pranaprastitha at Ayodhya. Starting in Carmel and concluding at the Hindu Mandir in Indianapolis, participants were warmly welcomed with flowers, Ram je ka Nara. We have then escorted a procession around sannidhis of Mandir, followed by archana at Rama Parivar. The event also showcased a Ramayana Poster Exhibition inauguration, adding cultural richness to the day.

A dedicated team of Karyakartas (9 Sevkas, 6 Sevikas, and 2 Kishore) visited 6 temples in the RTP area, expressing gratitude for their participation in the celebration. They engaged with Temple BOD, distributed HSS Annual reports, and provided insights into HSS activities, actively participating in the temples’ programs. Shekhar Ji addressed the BAPS Sabha and shed light on struggles and importance of Ram Mandir Nirman

The Car Rally saw enthusiastic participation from HSS families, featuring 11+ Tarun and 8 Kishores. A total of 8 temples joined the rally, with over 50 cars contributing to the vibrant procession. The route was covered by the coordinated efforts of 4 temples

A captivating Darshana poster exhibition for the general public was held in one of the temples during their programs and events, adding an enriching visual element to the celebration.

A record number of 300+ cars and 900+ people joining the rally in subzero temperatures early in the morning (9 degrees F). We started from the Hindu temple of Cincinnati around 9.40 am, with the Shree Ram Paduka. Then visited Umiya Mata temple followed by Shree Sai temple. In the Sai temple, Iscon volunteers sang the Ram dhuna. BAPS volunteers joined the car yatra well. The program concluded with aarti in Sai Temple. Three police depts coordinated the escort and local road management (again our relation with Mason police helped). HSS volunteers were involved in planning and participating in the car yatra. All involved organizations felt the need to meet on a regular basis. As a cherry on top, Sriram ji Kakani (Dayton kk) made and distributed 300 packets of akshata received from Ayodhya.