The spiritual heart of Ayodhya witnessed a moment of immense devotion and celebration as the first floor of the Ram Mandir, now home to a magnificent Ram Darbar, was opened to the public for darshan on Saturday.
Pilgrims from across India gathered in large numbers to witness the divine grandeur of Lord Ram and his royal entourage. The decision to open the upper level of the temple was taken by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, following coordination with local authorities.
To ensure crowd management and smooth darshan, the authorities implemented a pass system, similar to the one used for visiting the sanctum sanctorum of Ram Lalla. On the opening day, only 300 devotees were allowed entry, divided into two time slots: 5–7 p.m. and 7–9 p.m.
Each session was capped at 150 passes—half issued by the district administration and half by the temple trust. The slots were further subdivided into categories such as ‘Special Darshan’ and ‘Easy Access Darshan’, making accommodations for senior citizens and those with special needs.
Despite the sweltering heat, long queues formed early in Ayodhya, with devotees waiting patiently for their turn. “We’ve been waiting for over an hour, but we feel blessed just being here,” said one visitor. Another devotee shared, “The heat doesn’t matter. The moment you enter the temple, it all melts away. It’s pure bliss.”
The newly opened Ram Darbar is a visual and spiritual spectacle. Lord Ram is depicted in his royal form, surrounded by Sita, Lakshman, Bharat, Shatrughan, and Hanuman, all set in a majestic court-like setting that brings the epic of Ramayana to life.
Earlier, on June 5, eight new deities were ceremonially installed in other sections of the temple complex, each placed according to Vastu Shastra guidelines. These include:
Lord Shiva in the northeast
Lord Ganesha in the southeast
Lord Hanuman in the south
Surya Dev (Sun God) in the southwest
Goddess Bhagwati in the northwest
Goddess Annapurna in the north
These additions further enhance the spiritual landscape of the temple, symbolizing the divine harmony of various Hindu traditions.
As the Ram Temple continues to evolve into a national center of faith, Saturday’s opening of the Ram Darbar marks another step in making the holy site fully accessible to devotees from all walks of life.
