Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh), March 27: In a heartfelt gesture during the Ram Navami festival, Iqbal Ansari, a former litigant in the Babri Masjid case, shared images of Lord Ram Lalla as gifts to security personnel and fellow devotees.

Ram Navami, which commemorates the birth of Lord Ram, the seventh incarnation of Vishnu, is celebrated amidst the nine-day Chaitra Navratri festival. This occasion encourages reflection on virtues like truth, compassion, and righteousness.

Ansari expressed his joy, stating, "This is Ayodhya's faith. This is the prasad. I distribute it among everyone, including the security staff and all those people who come here. This is my happiness that I could give it to people. It is my devotion (to God)."

He further remarked, "Today is Ram Navami. It is a historic day. It is because of people's faith in Lord Ram that they come to Ayodhya and take this (Lord Ram Lalla’s picture) in the form of 'prasad'."

Ansari also underscored the importance of Ayodhya as a sacred city. "Ayodhya is a religious place. It is the city of Lord Ram, a city of gods and goddesses. A place like Ayodhya doesn't exist anywhere in the world because the Lord himself resides in Ayodhya," he noted.

He highlighted the 'Surya Tilak' ritual at the Ram Temple, which took place on Ram Navami. This ritual, known as Surya Abhishek or Surya Tilak, commenced in 2024 and has been celebrated annually on Ram Navami. It involves the sun's rays directly touching the deity's forehead, creating a divine ambiance within the temple on Lord Ram's birthday.

Ansari added, "This is a matter of immense happiness for everyone in the country. All the devotees who have come here from outside are happy that on this day they will be able to perform 'darshan' of the Lord."

On this auspicious occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the sacred 'Surya Tilak' ceremony of Ram Lalla, observing the event virtually and praying for the nation's well-being.