Dance, music, rallies mark Ayodhya event in Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam: Vizag city was abuzz with various events on Monday marking the consecration ceremony at the newly-constructed Ram temple in Ayodhya. Devotees performed various dance forms, songs dedicated to Lord Ram played on loudspeakers, temples decked up with flowers and people dressed as Lord Ram, Sita and Hanuman as part of celebrations.
Groups of devotees singing and dancing, and children dressed as Ramayana characters were a common sight in parts of Vizag city, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam towns in north Andhra Pradesh.
Many devotees visited Sri Sitaramachandra Swamy temple (the biggest Lord Ram temple) at Ambika Bagh near Jagadamba Junction in Vizag city on Monday, where they watched the live streaming of consecration ceremony. Youngsters and children performed dance forms in praise of Lord Rama. Though there were no specific restrictions or instructions on sale of meat, the meat traders in parts of Vizag city shut meat and chicken shops on Monday.
“We shut meat shops to honour the sanctity of the occasion. A majority of Hindu people will not consume meat on this day as it is a most auspicious day for them,” said a meat trader in Vizag city.
A group of Hindu organisations in Vizag city took out a rally on the Beach Road as part of the celebration of Pran Pratishtha of Ram temple in Ayodhya.
“The dream of crores of people of the nation was fulfilled with the Ram temple consecration in Ayodhya. How can this be not celebrated? Vizag city witnessed a religious atmosphere on Monday, and everyone chanted ‘Jai Sriram.’ It is very difficult to describe in words,” said Vivek G, a resident of Vizag city.
Not only in temples but also on the streets many devotees celebrated the event in different styles, he added.