Will Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoist the ceremonial sacred flag atop Ayodhya’s Ram Temple? The prime minister has been formally invited by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust to hoist the sacred flag atop the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on November
25, in what will mark the symbolic completion of the grand temple complex. The event is said to be the second most grand event after Pran Pratishtha, held in January 2024.
Nripendra Mishra, Chairman of the Temple Construction Committee, said the prime minister has “in principle accepted the date”, and preparations are already underway for his participation in the ceremony. “The hoisting of the flag by the prime minister signifies that the temple and its allied structures are now ready and open for devotees,” Mishra said.
The event will also feature RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat as one of the chief guests, alongside several top seers and dignitaries. The flag-hoisting ceremony will be preceded by a five-day ritual sequence beginning November 21, culminating on November 25 with Modi’s participation.
Sacred Symbol from Valmiki Ramayana
According to Govind Dev Giri, treasurer of the trust, the saffron flag—a symbol of divine energy and purity—has been crafted in accordance with descriptions from the Valmiki Ramayana. “The flag will bear symbols of the Sun, Om, and Kovidar tree, all of which are sacred elements linked to Lord Ram,” he said.
The 22-foot-long and 11-foot-wide flag will be raised on a 42-foot-high pole atop the 161-foot spire (Shikhara) of the main temple. The pole itself has been engineered with a 360-degree rotating chamber based on ball bearings to withstand wind speeds of up to 60 km/hour, ensuring that the sacred flag remains undamaged in all weather conditions.
“The flag hoisting will mark not just the culmination of construction but the consecration of Ayodhya’s spiritual skyline,” said Anil Mishra, a member of the trust overseeing technical arrangements.
Completion of the Grand Temple Complex
The ceremony marks the final phase of the Ram Temple’s construction, which has progressed in multiple stages since the ground-breaking in August 2020. The ground floor was completed in 2022, followed by the consecration ceremony of the idol of Ram Lalla in January 2024, which saw participation from lakhs of devotees and religious leaders.
Now, with the completion of the first floor and the Sanctum Sanctorum (Garbh Griha), the trust says that the temple structure is fully ready. The second floor of the temple is being developed into a spiritual archive, dedicated to preserving Ramayana manuscripts and interpretations in multiple Indian and foreign languages.
Mishra confirmed that 14 smaller temples within the complex—dedicated to various deities—are also complete and will soon be opened for public worship. “The Parkota (outer boundary) and the Parikrama complex are ready and accessible,” he said.
A Temple of National Significance
Since opening for public worship, the Ram Temple has drawn over seven crore devotees, which highlights its cultural, historical, and spiritual importance. The November 25 ceremony, the trust said, will represent a moment of national unity and devotion, marking the fulfillment of a centuries-old aspiration.
Govind Dev Giri said the trust has expanded the guest list from 8,000 to 10,000 people in view of the overwhelming interest in the event. However, attendance will be Ayodhya-centric, with participants invited only from eastern Uttar Pradesh. “This event will be limited to local devotees; no outsiders will be invited this time,” Giri said.
He added that special worship, havans, and Vedic rituals will take place in all eight major temples, including those of Lord Ram, Shiva, Ganesha, Surya, Hanuman, Mata Bhagwati, and Mata Annapurna, among others.
The hoisting of the saffron flag, trust officials said, carries deep symbolic meaning in Hindu tradition. In ancient texts, the flag is considered a declaration of divine establishment—a moment when the temple becomes a beacon of dharma and devotion.
“The flag atop the Ram temple represents victory of faith and endurance of centuries of devotion,” said a senior priest from Ayodhya, who will be part of the rituals. “It is the final step before the temple stands eternally as a living symbol of Lord Ram’s presence.”
