Today marks a momentous chapter in India’s cultural and spiritual history. Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed the sacred Dhwajarohan ceremony at the Ayodhya Ram Temple, hoisting a saffron flag atop the temple’s towering shikhara. For millions of devotees across the globe, this wasn’t just a ceremonial event—it symbolized the spiritual completion of a temple that represents centuries of faith, devotion, and perseverance.
I’ve been following the Ram Temple’s journey since the groundbreaking ceremony in 2020, and witnessing today’s flag hoisting felt like watching history unfold in real-time. The ceremony took place during the auspicious Margashirsha Shukla Panchami, coinciding with Vivah Panchami—the day celebrating Lord Ram and Mata Sita’s divine marriage.
Source: TheHindu.com
The Sacred Dharma Dhwaj: Engineering Meets Spirituality
The flag that now waves proudly from the Ram Temple’s 161-foot shikhara is no ordinary piece of cloth. Measuring 22 feet in length and 11 feet in width, this specially crafted saffron flag weighs between two to three kilograms and represents a remarkable blend of traditional symbolism and modern engineering.
According to The Print, the flag was manufactured in Ahmedabad by a specialized parachute company. What’s fascinating is that the flag is crafted with special silk threads and parachute fabric to withstand sun, rain, and strong winds, with its quality finalized after discussions with senior Army officers.
The engineering behind this flag is impressive. It’s placed on a 42-foot pole fixed on top of the temple’s 161-foot spire, with a 360-degree rotating system with ball bearings that helps it survive wind speeds of up to 60 km per hour.
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Three Sacred Symbols That Tell a Story
The flag carries three profound spiritual symbols:
The Radiant Sun: Representing Lord Ram’s Suryavansha (Solar Dynasty) lineage, the sun symbolizes divine brilliance, valor, and the eternal light of dharma. It’s a reminder of Ram’s noble heritage and his embodiment of truth.
The Om Symbol: This primordial sound represents the eternal spiritual essence and the ideals of Ram Rajya—the just and righteous governance that Lord Ram established in his kingdom. It’s the foundation of Sanatan values.
The Kovidara Tree: This is perhaps the most intriguing symbol. The Kovidar tree is a hybrid of the Mandar and Parijat trees created by Rishi Kashyap, showcasing ancient plant hybridization in India. It connects us to India’s ancient botanical knowledge and spiritual wisdom.
Champat Rai, General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, explained in his statement to ANI that the saffron color itself holds deep meaning—it represents fire, the rising sun, sacrifice, and dedication.
PM Modi’s Day-Long Spiritual Journey
The Prime Minister’s visit wasn’t a brief stop. His carefully planned itinerary reflected deep reverence for the entire spiritual ecosystem of the Ram Janmabhoomi complex.
9:30 AM – Arrival: Modi landed in Ayodhya and was received with traditional honors.
10:00 AM – Saptmandir Darshan: The PM visited the complex of seven temples dedicated to key figures from the Ramayana—Maharshi Vashishtha, Maharshi Vishwamitra, Maharshi Agastya, Maharshi Valmiki, Devi Ahilya, Nishadraj Guha, and Mata Shabari. Each of these revered personalities played crucial roles in Lord Ram’s life journey.
11:00 AM – Sheshavtar and Mata Annapurna Temples: Modi paid his respects at these important shrines within the complex.
11:52 AM to 12:35 PM – The Historic Moment: The ritual took place during the shubh muhurat (auspicious time) between 11:52 am and 12:35 pm, lasting about four minutes, with around 21 Vedic acharyas and volunteers blowing conch shells taking part in the ceremony, while helicopters showered flower petals over the temple spire.
The timing was meticulously chosen by temple priests and Vedic scholars to align with the most spiritually auspicious moment.
Source: indiatvnews.
Why This Day Carries Multiple Layers of Significance
What makes November 25, 2025, particularly special is how multiple spiritual threads converge on this single date. Beyond being Vivah Panchami, today also marks the martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru.
Historical records show that Guru Tegh Bahadur spent 48 hours in deep meditation in Ayodhya during the 17th century. This beautiful intersection of Sikh and Hindu spiritual traditions at the same sacred site reminds us of India’s rich interfaith heritage and the shared spiritual soil that nourishes all faiths.
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Security Arrangements: Fortress Ayodhya
Given the significance of the event and the presence of high-profile dignitaries, Ayodhya was transformed into a security fortress. A total of 6,970 security personnel, including commandos from the ATS, NSG snipers, cyber experts, and technical teams were deployed in the city as part of heightened security measures.
The security architecture included:
- Anti-Terrorism Squad commandos positioned at strategic locations
- NSG snipers for long-range surveillance
- Cybersecurity experts monitoring online threats
- Anti-drone technology to prevent aerial security breaches
- Multiple security perimeters around the temple complex
Additionally, The Tribune reported that , nearly 60 chartered planes landed in Ayodhya, with more than 100 additional CISF personnel deployed at the Ayodhya airport for heightened security.
The temple trust made practical security decisions too. Guests attending the ceremony were not permitted to carry mobile phones inside the premises. While this might have disappointed some wanting to capture the moment, it ensured the highest level of security.
The Guest List: Inclusivity at Its Core
According to The Print, the Trust invited 6,000 to 7,000 guests from across Uttar Pradesh for the event, with a 200-ft-wide LED screen set up to show the ceremony live to the guests.
The ceremony was attended by RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, along with UP Governor Anandiben Patel.
What struck me as particularly meaningful was the deliberate inclusivity in the guest list. Three members of the Dom community from Varanasi were invited to the grand flag-hoisting ceremony—relatives of the late Dom Raja Jagdish Chaudhary, who had proposed Narendra Modi’s name as a candidate in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
The Dom community performs cremation rituals and provides the sacred fire in Hindu traditions—an important role often not given much recognition in society. Their invitation to this historic ceremony sends a powerful message about inclusivity and respect for all members of Hindu society.
The Ram Temple’s Architectural Marvel: A National Embrace
One aspect of the Ram Temple that deserves special attention is its architectural design, which brilliantly represents India’s unity in diversity.
The main shikhara follows the traditional Nagara style of North Indian temple architecture—soaring vertically toward the heavens in a design that’s been perfected over centuries in temples across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
But here’s what makes it special: The 800-meter circumambulation path (Parkota) draws heavily from South Indian architectural traditions. This wasn’t an accident. The temple’s designers made a conscious decision to blend architectural styles from across India.
The temple walls tell stories too. The main structure features 87 stone-carved episodes from Valmiki’s Ramayana, while the outer compound walls display 79 bronze sculptures celebrating various aspects of Indian culture and spirituality.
Understanding Temple Completion in Hindu Tradition
You might wonder—didn’t the temple get inaugurated in January 2024? Why is the flag hoisting being called the “completion”?
Temple priests and scholars explained that in traditional Hindu temple construction, the Dhwajarohan ceremony holds unique significance. The earlier Pran Pratishtha ceremony in January was when Ram Lalla was formally installed in the sanctum sanctorum—the spiritual heart awakening.
Today’s flag hoisting is considered the final ritual that marks the temple’s complete readiness as a sacred space. According to traditional Agama Shastra (temple building scriptures), a temple isn’t considered fully functional until the Dhwaj is hoisted atop its main shikhara. This flag is meant to remain there permanently, serving as a beacon of the divine presence within.
The Forgotten Flag That Returned After Centuries
Here’s a fascinating detail that adds another layer to today’s ceremony. Indologist Lalit Mishra is credited with bringing the flag back to public consciousness, having discovered it unintentionally while studying a painting from the pictorial Ramayana of Mewar, later tracing its mention in the Ayodhya Kand of the Valmiki Ramayana.
This flag had vanished from memory, scriptures, and tradition for centuries. Its rediscovery and today’s hoisting represent a powerful reconnection with Ayodhya’s ancient heritage.
The Broader Cultural Impact
Beyond the religious significance, this event marks something deeper for Indian society. The Ram Temple has become a symbol of cultural revival, architectural excellence, and national pride for many Indians.
What’s particularly noteworthy is how the temple’s design consciously incorporates elements from across India. The blend of North and South Indian architectural styles, the inclusion of stories and symbols from various regions—all of this sends a message that this isn’t just a regional temple. It’s meant to represent the spiritual and cultural fabric of the entire nation.
Former litigant in the Ayodhya land dispute case, Iqbal Ansari, also welcomed the ceremony, demonstrating how the city has moved forward with harmony after decades of conflict.
Preparations That Made It Possible
The scale of preparation for today’s ceremony was extraordinary. Ayodhya was adorned with nearly 100 tons of flowers, transforming the temple complex and surrounding areas into a vibrant celebration of devotion.
The Trust acquired 1,600 rooms in different hotels along with tent cities to accommodate the invitees, with 50 beds reserved in the Ayodhya medical college and around two dozen doctors supported by a large team of paramedical staff on duty.
For four days before the ceremony, a continuous havan (fire ritual) was conducted at the Yagna Mandap, with around 100 priests performing the rituals to purify and sanctify the space for this historic moment.
What This Means for Devotees Worldwide
For millions of Ram devotees who have prayed for this day, seeing that saffron flag wave from the temple’s highest point represents a dream fulfilled. Social media has been flooded with emotional responses from devotees around the world who watched the ceremony through live broadcasts.
One devotee I came across on social media wrote, “My grandfather used to tell me stories about Ram Janmabhoomi. He never thought he’d see the temple in his lifetime. Today, I watched the flag hoisting and thought of him. This is for all those who believed.”
Looking Ahead: The Temple’s Future
Now that the flag has been hoisted and the temple is considered spiritually complete, what comes next?
The temple management has been working on comprehensive systems to handle the massive crowd flow expected in coming years. Regular darshan resumed at 2:30 PM on the day of the ceremony, with extended hours to accommodate the thousands of devotees who traveled to witness this historic occasion.
The day after the event will have an extended darshan window of nearly 15-16 hours without any VIP movement, designed to accommodate travelers arriving after the ceremony.
Ayodhya itself has been undergoing rapid transformation. New infrastructure, improved facilities, and better connectivity are making it easier for pilgrims to visit. The city is preparing to become one of India’s major pilgrimage destinations, comparable to Varanasi or Tirupati.
My Personal Reflection
Having followed the Ram Temple’s journey from the Bhoomi Pujan in August 2020 to the Pran Pratishtha in January 2024, and now to today’s flag hoisting, it feels like witnessing a long story reach its natural, fulfilling conclusion.
The ceremony was conducted with dignity and spiritual depth. The security was professional yet unobtrusive. The atmosphere, even through television screens, felt genuinely moving for devotees.
What strikes me most is how this temple has become more than just a place of worship. It’s a statement about cultural continuity, architectural excellence, and the power of collective faith. The blend of ancient architectural wisdom, modern construction techniques, and deep spiritual traditions makes it a unique addition to India’s already rich temple heritage.
Whether you’re deeply religious, culturally curious, or simply interested in Indian history, there’s no denying that the Ram Temple in Ayodhya has become a landmark that will be discussed, studied, and visited for generations to come.
The Message It Sends
As that saffron flag waves from the shikhara, visible from far across Ayodhya, it carries multiple messages:
For devotees, it’s a symbol of faith fulfilled and spiritual completion.
For historians, it marks the end of a centuries-long journey and the beginning of a new chapter.
For architects and engineers, it demonstrates how traditional knowledge can be combined with modern technology.
For the nation, it represents cultural pride and the importance of preserving spiritual heritage.
And perhaps most importantly, for future generations, it stands as a testament to what devotion, determination, and unity can achieve.
About the Author: Sundhanshu Pathania is a journalist covering cultural and spiritual affairs in India, with a special focus on heritage sites and religious architecture.
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