Community kitchens, ranging from those organized by Nihang Singhs and ISKCON to temple trusts across the country and local residents in Ayodhya, are actively providing ‘langar’ meals to devotees in anticipation of the upcoming consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple.

Devotees heading to the holy city can relish freshly cooked hot meals at various community kitchens, operational at every nook and corner of the city. Khichdi, aloo puri, kadhi chawal, achar, and papad constitute the common menu at these langars, while the supply of hot tea offers respite to pilgrims amid the bone-chilling cold.

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On Friday, a group of Nihang Sikhs, led by Baba Harjit Singh Rasulpur, arrived in Ayodhya to conduct a two-month ‘Langar sewa’ at the Char Dham Mutt for the pilgrims arriving here to pay obeisance to Ram Lalla in the newly-constructed temple.

“I am the eighth generation of Baba Fakir Singh and want to highlight the sacrifices of Nihangs among Ram devotees,” said Harjit Singh, a member of the Nihang Sikh group.

“This langar is a tribute to the struggle launched by our ancestors for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The service will go on for two months,” Harjit said. The Mahavir Temple trust of Patna is running the ‘Ram ki Rasoi’ community kitchen.

“Over 10,000 devotees are fed hot meals here in a day, the number is expected to jump when more people will visit the temple once it is opened for public after the Pran Pratistha ceremony. The expenses are funded by the Mahavir temple trust and people from across the country have been sending donations, both monetary as well as raw material,” a ‘sevadar’ at the kitchen said.

ISKCON is welcoming pilgrims coming to Ayodhya with lunch prasad along with distribution of Vedic literature.

“ISKCON welcomes all the pilgrims coming to Ayodhya for the darshan of Lord Sri Ram. Daily 5,000 pilgrims are being served lunch prasad along with the distribution of Vedic literature and ‘sankirtan’ by devotees of different nationalities,” said Yudhistir Govinda Das, spokesperson, ISKCON India board.

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The first phase of the Ram temple in Ayodhya is nearing completion and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take part in the consecration of the Ram Lalla idol on January 22

In 2019, the Supreme Court issued a landmark verdict, resolving a century-old temple-mosque dispute. The decision supported the construction of a Ram temple at the contested site and mandated the allocation of an alternative five-acre plot for the mosque. Ayodhya is now adorned in preparation for the ‘Pran Prathishtha’ ceremony. The flyover streetlights showcase artistic representations of Lord Ram, featuring cutouts of bow and arrow, while ornamental lamp posts are adorned with designs inspired by the traditional ‘Ramanandi tilak’.

Residents who are excited about the economic growth unfolding in the temple town are also coming together to provide complimentary meals to devotees.

“Lord Ram has blessed us with new means of livelihood which will continue for the rest of our lives. For two months, we are offering free food at our restaurant. We are also constructing new guest houses for the pilgrims,” said Brakesh Shukl, owner of a dhaba near Asharfi Bhawan.

Meanwhile, Gauri Shankar Sewa Dal from Chandigarh is heading to Ayodhya to run a one-month-long langar service. Pritam, a member of the religious organisation, said, “We will serve makke ki roti and sarson ka saag. Our langar will start from January 23, a day after the consecration ceremony and will go on for a month.”

Gearing up for the big day, the city is decked up with saffron flags and huge cutouts of Lord Ram that have been placed on the median of the Ram Path while continuous chants of ‘Siya Ram’ and ‘Jai Siya Ram’ can be heard everywhere, being played on loudspeakers installed at temples in the vicinity. Ramlilas, Bhagwat Kathas, Bhajan sandhyas and cultural programmes are being held at different places across the city. The banks of the Saryu river where thousands flock every evening for the aarti have also been decked up.

Some of the trees on Dharm Path near the Lata Mangeshkar Chowk have been decorated with special pieces made with inverted baskets and lights, adding to the aesthetic feel of the revamped holy city.