Two sacred idols of Lord Ram and Sita, made especially to mark the consecration of the Ayodhya temple, are arriving in Auckland January 19 for celebrations organised by Aotearoa’s Hindu community.
The two-feet-tall idols made from pure white marble will arrive by air from India on Saturday, organisers say. The idols will be taken straight to Eden Park in a procession for a Pran Pratishtha ceremony planned later that day.
“Thereafter, the idols will travel in a motorcade to Wellington on Monday (January 22), and there will be an opportunity for people to do darshan on the way,” says one of the organisers.
The next day, the idols are scheduled to be open for public darshan in Wellington and finally installed at Gita Mandir in the national capital.
Preparations for the grand ceremony at Eden Park this Sunday are in full swing, as Auckland's Hindu community prepares to host a grand celebration.
Organised by Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Prana Pratishta Mahotsav Committee, the event promises an amalgamation of religious fervour, cultural enchantment, and a touch of New Zealand magic.The vibrant festivities, set to unfold at the iconic Outer Oval, Eden Park, from 1pm to 6pm, will not just pay homage to Lord Ram but will also transform the cricket ground into a mesmerising rendition of Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama.
The event, ‘Ayodhya in Eden Park’, is particularly significant as it precedes the official opening of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh on January 22, 2024
Vinod Kumar, the dynamic force behind the organising committee, tells us what makes the event unique. "The event aims to unite the Hindu community in New Zealand to come under one umbrella and celebrate the iconic opening of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
“We want to create memories that will linger for years to come. This is not just any celebration; it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It took more than 500 years and many lives to once again build a temple where it once stood.”