Ram and Sita statue consecrated in Matihani

The Matihani Municipality has carved 25-feet-tall wooden statues of the Hindu deities Shreeram and Sita here in a bid to give a glimpse of the similar statues being installed in the newly-inaugurated Ram Temple in Ayodhya of India.

Sculptor Raju Lal carved the statue in 15 days.

The statue of Shreeram depicting the god Ram in his child form installed here resembles the statue being consecrated in the Ram temple in Ayodhya today. The statue is being installed at Shree Laxminarayan temple precincts at Matihani-7 in Mahottari district today itself, enacting ceremony to that is being held in Ayodhya, said Hari Prasad Mandal, the Mayor of Matihani Municipality. The Laxminarayan shrine is considered the oldest of all the shrines in the country.

"The statue of Shreeram and Janaki would be installed at the shrine and consecrated today itself according to the established tradition. Worshipping of the statue will also be started," said the mayor. According to him, the consecration of the statue will take place here simultaneously with the consecration in Ayodhya.

Maha aarati and cultural celebrations will be organised at the Laxminarayan shrine in the evening today. The Laxminarayan shrine premises, the Laxmisagar pond and surroundings have been lavishly decorated for the celebrations.

The Jaleshwar, Matihani and Manarashishawa municipalities held religious and cultural processions on Sunday ahead of the main celebrations today. Special worship ceremonies are being held also at the Shree Jaleshwarnath temple in Jaleshwar today.

Manarashishawa municipality has given a public holiday today for celebrating the consecration of the statue of Shreeram and Sita.

Meanwhile, a celebratory mood can be seen among the people in Janakpurdham, the capital of Madhes province, today along with the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya of India some 500 kilometres away from here.

The consecration of the statue of Ramlala in Ayodhya has become the talk of the town here in Janakpurdham. People have been talking about this topic everywhere – at tea shops, paan stalls and at the major public places of the city.

Most of the temples in the Madhes province, including those in Janakpurdham, have been decorated. Flags with images of Ram and Hanuman have been installed everywhere at these shrines.

Over a two dozen local governments including Janakpurdham Sub-Metropolitan City, Kshireshwarnath Municipality, Sahidnagar, Aurahi and others in Dhanusha district have announced a public holiday today in celebration of the special occasion of inauguration of Lord Ram Temple in Ayodhya.