The grand consecration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, India slated for January 22 has turned into a full-blown global spectacle. According to the Hindustan Times, festivities have kicked off in cities around the world, even as far as Houston, where an impressive car rally recently hit the streets, looping around 11 temples to the chants and melodies of bhajans.
Houston's Hindu community isn't just ready to casually observe the inauguration; they're eager to thoroughly celebrate the occasion, as detailed by the Houston Chronicle. The GSH Event Center will be teeming with people on January 21st as local leaders and community members gather to watch the live broadcast of the ceremony. Fort Bend County Commissioner Andy Meyers expressed the city's ebullience, saying, "Our community has grown remarkably in the past couple of decades as people worldwide choose to make our area home." and added "This has enriched us with a wonderful diversity of cultures, beliefs, foods, and many other advantages. By being respectful, tolerant, and seeking to learn more about each other for greater understanding, we can accomplish amazing things."
Over in France, Place de La Chapelle will see the commencement of a Ram Rath Yatra, culminating at Place de Trocadero, engaging participators with an ornately designed invitation to join the festivities. Back across the pond, the inauguration isn't something to just be quietly viewed at home. Times Square in New York City is poised to be another hub of revelry, with a live telecast of the ceremony, as mentioned by Hindustan Times. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address devotees both locally and globally.
But let's zero back in on Houston, which according to a car rally participant, is not just observing but rather, actively ensuring to participate in the celebration. "We’re going to be going around the 20 something temples in Houston, and to invite everyone officially to watch the ceremony on the 21st, and show support," Darshini Vinay, a 15-year-old student from Paetow High School in Katy, told the Houston Chronicle. Such enthusiasm is emblematic of the sentiment reverberating throughout the Hindu American community, as evidenced by the large numbers turning out for these events.
The significance of the Ram Mandir's inauguration may well be steeped in centuries of history, and the ceremonies of January 22 will no doubt be filled with as much grandeur and fervor as warranted by such a momentous occasion.
