Homecoming of a Civilisational Hero

Bharatiya culture is characterised by the worship of deities such as Prabhu Ram, who are not only known for their stupendous achievements during their lifetime but also because of the values they upheld. Prabhu Ram is not only a deity but a civilisational hero who has been revered and worshipped by many prominent people such as Swami Vivekananda. Loyalty, courage, steadfastness and compassion are some of the values that make up the personality of Prabhu Ram.India celebrated its first Diwali for the year 2024, on 22nd January, as it truly marked the homecoming of Ayodhya-wasi Ram. For thousands of years, Prabhu Ram has been a perennial source of inspiration, right from Sri Hanuman in the Treta Yuga to usi in Kali Yuga, making him a civilisational hero. The holy ceremony for the consecration on 22nd January 2024, was a culmination of the devotional aspiration of millions of Hindus across the globe.The journey of the Ram Janmabhoomi Movement, which spanned for 500 years, is a classic example of the resistance and perseverance of the Hindu community. Despite centuries of cultural servitude and political slavery, the Hindu community has fought across generations to ensure that the Ram Mandir is built in Ayodhya once again. Hindu organisations such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad have ensured that each and every person in India feels involved in this mega celebration by distributing invitations along with akshata to every household. This is a very important on-ground campaign as it ensures that the cultural fervour, that stems from the Ram Mandir inauguration ceremony, is spread across the country. .It is important to note that Shri Ram is not a deity whose radius of impact is limited by geographical boundaries therefore the Pran Pratishta of Ram Lalla is not only a matter of pride for Bharathiyas but for Ram Bhakts across the globe. For example, the Kings of Thailand are given the title “Ram” as a sign of their reverence for the deity and the grand ceremony for the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya was broadcasted live in Bangkok. Nepalis came with truckloads of gifts for the temple, as the mountain country is considered home to Sita Devi, and this is their due to the son-in-law. Even the Nepal government declared a day's holiday for 22nd January.The construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya is complemented by the launching of 46 development projects which included Maharishi Valmiki International Airport and the redo of Ayodhya Dham Railway station. This sets an example to administrators across the globe that civilisational revival can only be entirely achieved through implementation of development projects in important cultural centres. This is a trend that we have seen over the last few years where the number of cultural projects such as the Kashi Vishwanath corridor have rampantly increased and are actively complemented with inauguration of development projects. This serves the dual purpose of increasing awareness about the importance of these cultural centres and creates necessary infrastructure to attract more tourists year after year..Inauguration of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya is a cultural booster dose for the revival of Bharat’s glorious civilisational past. It has ensured that more people are aware of our past, both the good and bad, and strengthened our religious beliefs. Milestones such as the consecration of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya should continue to happen, where revival of civilisational glory is coupled with development of the region, to ensure that India stands First.