Ayodhya, the sacred town in Uttar Pradesh, is set to welcome the New Year 2024 with a special offering, as the chief priest of the Ram temple, Acharya Satyendra Das, will present ’56 Bhog Prasad’ to ‘Ram Lalla’ on the inaugural day.
The ’56 bhog prasad’ comprises an assortment of desserts, including Rasgulla, Laddu, Barfi, and more. This tradition of presenting 56 varieties of offerings to God on the New Year holds historical significance.
The prasad has been sourced from the renowned ‘Madhurima’ sweets shop in Lucknow, reflecting a commitment made by the shop’s owner. “It was our resolution that when the Ramlala temple would be built, we would offer 56 types of offerings. We have been doing this work for 4 years. On January 22, 56 types of Bhog Prasad will be brought again for Ramlala,” expressed Sajal Gupta, the owner of Madhurima Sweet Shop.
In parallel, Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Vinod Bansal conducted a yagya, marking a ceremonial step towards the consecration of the Ram temple. The ongoing preparations for the temple’s inauguration on January 22 have reached a fervent pace, with anticipation building among dignitaries and the general populace.
As outlined by the temple trust, the consecration ceremony is scheduled over seven days, commencing on January 16. The grand moment of placing the idol of Lord Ram at the sanctum sanctorum is planned between noon and 12:45 pm on January 22, with Vedic priest Lakshmi Kant Dixit spearheading the key rituals of the consecration ceremony.