Ram Navami 2026: Surya Tilak Ceremony at Ayodhya Attracts Record 25 Lakh Devotees

Ayodhya witnessed an unprecedented gathering as an estimated 25 lakh devotees thronged the Ram Janmabhoomi temple complex for the Ram Navami Surya Tilak ceremony — a precision-engineered solar alignment that directs sunlight through a series of mirrors and lenses to illuminate the forehead of the Ram Lalla idol.

The ceremony, broadcast live on all major news channels and Doordarshan, occurred at exactly 12:16 PM IST, with the beam of sunlight lasting for 4 minutes. "This is not just engineering — it's the harmonious convergence of science, faith, and architecture," said temple Trust Chairman Nritya Gopal Das.

Security was unprecedented, with over 20,000 police personnel deployed and a multi-layer drone surveillance system monitoring the city. The Uttar Pradesh government arranged for 5,000 special buses and temporary railway services to manage the influx.

PM Modi, who joined virtually, called the ceremony "a symbol of India's civilisational continuity" and announced plans for a ₹10,000 crore tourism development project around the temple complex.