Page 18 - NIS English 16-31 December, 2025
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COVER STORY
Cultural Renaissance
It is the temple of national
consciousness in the form of Ram.
Lord Ram is the faith, foundation,
thought, law, consciousness, prestige,
and pride of India.
Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
(On the occasion of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of
Ram Lalla in Ayodhya, January 22, 2024)
has transformed Ayodhya into a global spiritual
centre. Following the consecration of the grand
Shri Ram Temple on January 22, 2024, this ritual
on November 25, 2025, not only marks the Redevelopment of
completion of a yagna (sacrifice), but also marks Shri Kedarnath Dham
the beginning of a new era. The Dhwajarohan Shri Kedarnath is one of the 12 sacred Jyotirlingas, located at
symbolizes the completion of the temple’s con- an altitude of 11,968 feet in the Rudraprayag district of
struction, a cultural celebration, and the begin- Uttarakhand. The temple is open to pilgrims for
ning of a new chapter of national unity. It is not approximately 6 to 7 months a year, from Akshaya Tritiya
just a date on the calendar but the dawn of a new (April-May) to Diwali (October-November).
era. The Dharma Dhwaj of the Shri Ram Janmab- n The 2013 disaster caused massive devastation to
hoomi Temple is a blend of ancient traditions and the pilgrimage town. Many buildings in the temple
modern technology. The Dharma Dhwaj features complex were damaged.
a shining sun, symbolizing the brilliance and
valour of Lord Shri Ram. It bears the inscribed r1,300 Crore, Kedarnath-Badrinath
‘Om’ along with an image of the Kovidara tree. Dham was rebuilt for the
The sacred saffron flag will convey a message of divine Char Dham Yatra.
dignity, unity, and cultural continuity, embodying
the ideals of Ram Rajya. n In 2017, PM Modi envisioned the Shri Kedarnath Dham
The Kovidara tree is a symbol of Lord Rama’s Reconstruction Plan to restore the spiritual glory and
lineage. It is made entirely from indigenous mate- divine form of Kedarnath Dham.
rials. Its fabric has three layers so that it remains n Approximately 30,000 tons of debris were removed, and
strong even in sunlight, rain, and strong winds. an 840-foot-long stepped temple corridor was developed.
Golden fabric has been added along the edges. n Construction of an arrival plaza at the confluence of two
Traditional methods have been used to highlight rivers and the use of local stones in the temple plaza.
every line and colour on the flag. The flagpole’s n Reconstruction of the damaged Shri Adi Guru
base is designed with a special ball-bearing Shankaracharya Samadhi, with a 12-foot-tall statue
chamber, allowing it to rotate 360 degrees and installed, which was unveiled by PM Modi.
keep the flag fluttering smoothly even in strong n Kedarnath Dham, has a meditation cave. In November
winds. The army’s assistance was also sought 2021, PM Modi spent 17 hours there, which became a
16 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR || December 16-31, 2025
