Hindu Community to celebrate ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony in Auckland!
Members of Hindu community, temples and different organisations across New Zealand have joined hands to celebrate the Shri Ram Mandir ‘Pran Pratishtha’ or consecration ceremony at Eden Park in Auckland on Sunday 21 January 2024. The organisers of the event ‘Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav Committee NZ’ are working relentlessly to make this once in a lifetime event memorable for all the believers of Hindu faith, especially the young members of the community. The organisers are busy making arrangements for the big day on 21st January when the event kick starts at the Outer Oval of Eden Park stadium at 1 pm. Invites are being sent out to people through various organisations and temples to take part in the ceremony and all members of public are welcomed to attend the auspicious event. The organising committee expects around 10,000 people to attend the 5-hour grand event.
Though the actual ‘Pran Pratishtha’ or consecration of Lord Ram’s child form or Ram Lalla takes place approx. 12,000 kms away in the holy city of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh but the excitement and frenzy among the believers is no less here by all means. On the auspicious day of 22 January, the child form of Lord Ram will be seated in the sanctum sanctorum between 12:15 pm to 12:45 pm. A Ram Darbar is also being built on the first floor of Mandir complex which will be ready soon. Shri Ram Mandir complex will also have statues of deities like Mata Shabari, Mata Annapurna, Hanuman, Maharishi Agastya, Maharishi Valmiki, Maharishi Vishwamitra and Nishad Raj as well as the revered consort of Devi Ahilya. The entrance gate of Shri Ram Mandir adorn sculptures of Garuda, Gajraj, and Simhas (lions) which are made using pink sandstone from Bansi Paharpur village in Rajasthan. Shri Ram Mandir will be a 3-story structure with each floor being 20 feet tall. Mandir has a total of 392 pillars and 44 doors apart from 5 Mandpas or halls. The Mandir is surrounded by a rectangular compound/security wall with a length of 732 meters and width of 14 feet.
The event in Auckland is aptly named “Ayodhya in Eden Park’ Auckland, and the 5-hour event includes Mahayagya or the Holy Fire which is open to public participation. This will be followed by rendering of devotional songs, cultural dances, and depiction of Ram Leela. An audio-visual presentation of the history of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi will be done and later the winners of children and youth competition will also do a presentation. Some prominent religious and community leaders will address the attendees and convey their greeting on this occasion. Arrangements are being made to provide refreshment during the day program and ‘Maha Prasad’ or the divine supper at closing time at 6 pm to all participants.
Hindu temples across New Zealand are preparing to celebrate ‘Shri Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha’ event in a big way and most temples are doing 2 to 3 days programs at respective Mandirs along with the public event at Eden Park on 21st January 2024. New Zealand’s oldest Hindu temple Bharatiya Mandir in Sandringham is celebrating the consecration ceremony event for three days from 20 to 22 January. A 24 hour ‘Akhand Ramayan’ Path will be conducted from 5 pm on 21 January to 5 pm on 22 January to be culminate with Maha Yagya. Maha Aarti will be conducted at the conclusion of Maha Yagya and there will be a live telecast of Pran Pratishtha ceremony from Ayodhya’ for devotees at Mandir. Maha Prasad (grand feast) will be served to all devotees coming to Mandir on all three days of celebration. Members of public are invited to attend all programs and be part of this very joyous and historic occasion. -Yugal Parashar