Nirmala Sitharaman Offers Prayers at Ram Janmabhoomi Temple with Family

October 9, 2025

Ayodhya: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, accompanied by her family, visited the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya on Thursday, where she performed the aarti of Lord Ram Lalla.

During her visit, Sitharaman also paid obeisance at the Shri Ram Darbar and offered prayers to Goddess Durga, venerated as the Mother of the Universe. She further performed the Rudrabhishek of Lord Mahadev at the sacred Kuber Tila.

She was accompanied by Champat Rai, General Secretary of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, who explained both the completed and ongoing phases of temple construction. The Trust also welcomed her with a bouquet and held discussions on temple security, darshan facilities, and upcoming development projects.

Expressing her spiritual pride, Sitharaman said, “Ayodhya represents the living spirit of India’s faith, culture, and civilization.” The temple courtyard echoed with chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’, while the breeze from the Saryu River added to the devotional ambience.

Review of Ceremonial Preparations

The Finance Minister also reviewed arrangements for the forthcoming flag-hoisting ceremony at the temple. She was joined by Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Khanna and Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi, who is also Ayodhya’s district in-charge.

Two-Day Visit and Cultural Tribute

Sitharaman reached Ayodhya on Wednesday for a two-day programme. On the first day, she unveiled statues of three revered South Indian music saints — Tyagaraja Swamigal, Purandara Dasa, and Arunachala Kavi — at Brihaspati Kund, with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in attendance.

Since the completion of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, the city has drawn increasing numbers of devotees from across India and abroad. Pilgrims experience both the timeless heritage of the Ramayana era and the modern grandeur of the newly built shrine, making Ayodhya a vibrant symbol of India’s cultural and spiritual continuity.