Ram Lalla’s ‘Surya tilak’ to be key attraction again on Ram Navami

Lucknow: Those looking forward to celebrating Ram Navami in Ayodhya will once again get an opportunity to witness the majestic ‘Surya tilak'.
The Ram Temple Trust on Monday announced that preparations for Ram Navami festival have begun, and celebrations will officially begin at 9.30am on April 6 (Sunday).
As was the case last year, scientists and experts will carry out ‘Surya tilak' on the forehead of Ram Lalla exactly at noon.
The ‘shringar' of Ram Lalla in new clothes will take place at 10.40 pm, after which the birth will be celebrated at noon once the ‘Surya tilak' procedure is initiated. Those unable to visit the temple town will get ‘darshan' on television as live coverage will be done by the public service broadcaster.
Meanwhile, 96% of the main temple construction work is complete, with the remaining civil works expected to be over by June 30. Ram Darbar will be established on the first floor. Saptrishi temples will come up on the temple compound, while ‘parkota' and ‘shikhar' will be constructed by the last week of June.
Work on the 70-acre temple complex will continue with landscaping, beautification, and other elements being added gradually.
In another development, devotees visiting the temple could also be served fresh food during their visit, with deliberations underway to set up a community kitchen. Due to security reasons, the Ram Temple does not allow anyone to enter inside the temple with ‘prasad', flowers, or other offerings. Instead, while exiting the temple, the volunteers deputed by the trust distribute ‘prasad' to devotees.