GEETHA PATIL
ASHLAND, Massachusetts: Shri Ram Mandir Group organized Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram Ji’s Puja November 17 at the Sri Lakshmi Temple, Ashland, Massachusetts, with hundreds of people from the greater Boston area in attendance.
The gathering celebrated the Indian Supreme Court’s verdict that cleared the way for the building of a temple for Rama – the Hindu deity and central character of the epic “Ramayana”- in Ayodhya, a town in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
The program started with Vedic rituals of Shri Ganesh and Shri Ram Puja and Homam for prevailing peace in the world and to pay respect to those who sacrificed their life in the movement for Ram Janmabhoomi.
It also happened that it was the death anniversary day of Late Shri Ashok Singhal, the former international working president of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) who was also in charge of the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi movement. Temple priests Bala Ji and Krishna Bhatta performed the Homam Puja with special guests Dr Abhaya Asthana, president of Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, Prahlad KC, the Consul General of Nepal, and Robert B, Lancia, ex- State Senator of Rhode Island.
The priest chanted holy Vedic mantras that created positive atmosphere in the shrine. Teertha and Prasadam were served to all participants before the melodious Ram Bhajans session were sung by Guru M. Rama Rao and local school students.
A melodic Lord Ganesh Vandana was sung by a young girl Shreya Nippani. Speeches centered on the significance of the Supreme Court’s verdict on Ram Janmabhoomi.
Jyoti Singh did a great job as a master of ceremony of the program. Abhishek Singh thanked all the participants, guests of honors, and special invitees for their active participation in the event.
