Rourkela: The celebration on the occasion of the Ram temple consecration in Ayodhya was an incredible visual delight for all here, Monday. The mood was set in the last couple of days as Steel City geared up to cherish the homecoming of Ram. Old Rourkela, the main business district of the city, wore a hue of saffron Monday as the preparation that was underway reached its rhythmic crescendo. “I am 70 and have never seen such a celebration even during Ram Navami, what I saw today,” said one Ramsevak Gupta, who owns a shop there. What was most noticeable is that the celebration was a sheer display of emotions and pure devotion. “Like the old song, it is ‘Ramji ki sawari’ in full flow without any problem,” said a lady.
Over 50,000 people gathered on the road and there was no chaos or disturbance. Everything was moving in clocklike precision with such a crowd converging throughout two and half kilometre beginning from Bisra Chowk till Uditnagar here. Bhandaras or food stalls distributed delicacies like jalebi, chana masala, puri and sabji, suji halwa, laddu, rasagola, mihidana, bundi, oranges, and fruit juice to all. At every 30-40 feet distance there were stalls where even ladies joined in distributing foods. Sound systems were blaring out Ram bhajans and drummers were beating to a particular cadence creating a different feeling. Adding to this, firecrackers were exploding almost every second. All the stalls displayed huge photographs of Lord Ram.
Large saffron flags were being carried out in processions and then erected at a spot. The policemen posted near the sensitive Narla Road said, “It is all peaceful, we are just sitting here as there is no problem.” The celebration would conclude in the evening with Dev Deepavali. Around 6.30 pm, the big clay diya will be lit at Hanuman Vatika. However, when the report was being filed, all roads to Hanuman Vatika were already overflowing with devotees and their vehicles.