Ayodhya is gearing up for Ram Navami, the first significant religious event since the installation of the Ram Lalla idol in January. To mark the final day of Chaitra Navratri, 56 varieties of culinary delights will be prepared for the deity on Wednesday. Acharya Satyendra Das, the head priest of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple, mentioned that the festival’s preparations are overseen by the trust, promising an occasion filled with fervor and devotion.

“The trust is orchestrating all preparations, including adornments. Ram Navami will be marked with exuberance.” Das highlighted the distinctiveness of this year’s festivities, noting they follow the first ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ritual. Additionally, a Surya Abhishek for Lord Ram will take place for a brief period at 12:16 pm.

Nripendra Mishra, the chair of the Ram Mandir Nirman Samiti, provided details about the event. He explained that at 12:16 pm, sunlight will illuminate Lord Ramlala’s forehead for five minutes, facilitated by intricate technical planning. Scientists are involved to ensure this moment is a spectacular display.

Ramnavami, the nativity celebration of Lord Ram Lala, will occur at midday, with a variety of offerings presented to the deity. Devotees have provided ingredients for 56 varieties of Bhog Prasad on Tuesday, to be offered to the Lord at noon on Wednesday. To accommodate the influx of visitors, the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust, which oversees the temple’s management, has made special arrangements.

The trust announced on its official X account that beginning at 3:30 am during the Brahma Muhurta, arrangements will be in place for worshippers to form queues. The trust has extended visiting hours to 19 hours, from the Mangala Aarti to 11:00 pm. The curtains will only close briefly for the four Bhog offerings. The festivities will be projected on roughly one hundred large LED screens throughout Ayodhya, and live-streamed on the trust’s social media platforms, according to a post on X.