Ayodhya sees record footfall as Ram Navami Mela begins; accommodation crisis deepens | Representational Image
Ayodhya: With Ram Navami just around the corner, Ayodhya is witnessing an unprecedented rush of devotees. The nine-day Ram Navami Mela begins on March 30, culminating in the main event on April 6. Authorities estimate that over 50 lakh devotees will visit the city, leading to a severe accommodation crunch.
Hotels and dharamshalas are nearly full, with 90% of rooms already booked. The remaining accommodations are in high demand, with hoteliers receiving multiple inquiries daily. With traditional lodging exhausted, many devotees are turning to homestays, temples, and ashrams, but these too are at capacity.
Kamlesh Srivastava, BJP’s city president, noted, “Every day, 70,000 to 80,000 devotees arrive for Ramlala’s darshan. The Ramjanmotsav will see daily footfalls of 2.5 to 3 lakh, making this one of the largest gatherings in Ayodhya.”
The accommodation shortage is evident across the city. Hotelier Ramji Pandey mentioned that bookings have been closed for weeks, yet they continue to receive over 50 daily inquiries. Dharamshala manager Aditya Sultania added that his facility has been fully booked since the Pran Pratishtha ceremony and remains occupied until April 10.
This year’s Ram Navami celebrations are drawing significantly larger crowds due to the Pran Pratishtha of Ramlala. In the past two months, Ayodhya has already seen over three crore pilgrims. The festival will feature spiritual events such as Ram Katha, Ramnam Sankirtan, Navah Parayan, Yagya, and Havan, attracting devotees from across the country.
To ensure a smooth celebration, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust is making extensive arrangements. The highlight of the festival will be the Surya Tilak ceremony at noon on Ram Navami, where a ray of sunlight will illuminate Ramlala’s forehead. The ritualistic Abhishek will begin at 9:30 AM, followed by an elaborate Shringar and a grand offering of 56 types of bhog. The event will be broadcast live for global devotees, with LED screens set up across Ayodhya.
Authorities are taking steps to accommodate the influx of visitors. Free prasad distribution will be available at the Angad Tila complex, while 200 drinking water taps are being installed along the darshan route. To combat rising temperatures, coolers will be placed at multiple locations, and the darshan path will be covered with matting for the convenience of barefoot pilgrims.
As Ayodhya prepares for its largest Ram Navami celebration yet, the combination of tradition, devotion, and modern arrangements promises a historic event for millions of devotees.
