Surge in demand for saffron flags bearing images of Lord Ram and Ayodhya temple
consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, the demand for saffron flags bearing images of Lord Ram, Lord Hanuman and the upcoming grand temple has risen manifold. As Ayodhya will virtually be fortified on the day of the 'Pran Pratishtha' on January 22, devotees from nearby districts are arriving early for a 'darshan' of Ram Lalla and are purchasing these flags, besides other merchandise bearing the name and images of Lord Ram.
With less than two weeks to go for the grand event which will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the temple town is in the grip of religious fervour, or as the locals say, «Ayodhya Rammayi ho rahi hai».
Saffron flags bearing images of Lord Ram and the upcoming Ram temple, 'Jai Shri Ram' chant, or an image of Lord Hanuman — often seen on the rear windshield of cars — are in big demand, according to local shopkeepers.
Several local residents PTI spoke to said the demand for saffron flags has been on the rise since the 2019 Supreme Court verdict on the Ram temple issue.
«However, in the last few weeks, and particularly due to the 'Pran Pratishtha' coming up at the new Ram temple, there has been a fresh surge in the demand,» said Pradip Gupta, who runs a restaurant along Ram Path, a key thoroughfare in the heart of Ayodhya.
«Saffron flags carrying images of Lord Ram and the upcoming Ram temple are particularly a big hit among the devotees,» he added.
Earlier, people were not hoisting such flags on the rooftops of their houses, but now they can be seen all over, particularly households, he told PTI.
