New Delhi: India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked a historic moment on Thursday as he launched commemorative postage stamps dedicated to Ayodhya’s Ram Temple. Additionally, a book featuring stamps from around the world, dedicated to Lord Ram, was unveiled.
The stamp book serves as a testament to the global reverence for Shri Ram across diverse societies. Encompassing 48 pages, it showcases stamps issued by over 20 countries, including the United States, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada, Cambodia, and organizations like the United Nations.
The stamp designs encapsulate key elements associated with Lord Ram’s narrative, including the Ram temple, the verse ‘Mangal Bhavan Amangal Hari,’ the sun, the Saryu River, and sculptures within and around the temple. Gold leaf detailing enhances the majesty of the stamps, particularly highlighting the sun rays and the featured verse.
Six commemorative stamps were released, featuring the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Lord Ganesh, Lord Hanuman, Jatayu, Kevatraj, and Ma Shabri – all symbolic figures within Lord Ram’s story.
The design intricacies reflect the ‘Panchabhutas’ or five physical elements – sky, air, fire, earth, and water – establishing a harmonious representation of the ‘Panchamahabhutas’ essential for all manifestations.
The accompanying 48-page book aims to showcase Lord Ram’s international appeal, featuring stamps from countries such as Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Czech Republic, Fiji, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and others.
The ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony for Lord Ram’s idol at the grand Ayodhya temple is scheduled for January 22, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance. The elaborate rituals, spanning seven days, have commenced, and VIP guests from around the world have received invitations from the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
