A replica of Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir will be featured at the India Day parade in New York on August 18, drawing Indian Americans from across the region. This marks the first occasion that a replica of the revered temple will be displayed in the United States. According to Amitabh Mittal, general secretary of Vishva Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA), the replica will measure 18 feet in length, nine feet in width, and eight feet in height.
On January 22 of this year, a historic moment unfolded as Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed the Vedic rituals of ‘Pran Pratishtha’ at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, signifying Lord Ram’s return to his homeland after 500 years. The ceremony, attended by representatives from major spiritual and religious sects across India, marked the inauguration of this monumental temple, celebrated widely among Indians globally, including in the US.
The India Day parade in New York, an annual event since 1981, commemorates Indian Independence Day on August 15. It is the largest celebration of its kind outside India, drawing over 150,000 spectators along its route from East 38th Street to East 27th Street in Midtown Manhattan. Organized by the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA), the parade features numerous floats representing various Indian American communities and showcasing diverse cultural performances.
Earlier this year, the Ram Mandir Rath Yatra traversed 851 temples across 48 states in the US, covering more than 8,000 miles over 60 days. Organized by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA), this yatra involved a specially constructed chariot carrying statues of Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, Lakshman, and Hanuman, accompanied by sacred prasadam and kalash from the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. This unprecedented initiative united Hindu communities across North America, culminating in a series of events that underscored the cultural significance of the Ram Mandir.
