Ram temple consecration: MCD, NDMC direct market associations to take down saffron flags post Ram temple consecration

The MCD and the NDMC have issued directions to carefully remove the flags and banners with images of Lord Ram and Hanuman put up to decorate the streets of the city to celebrate the dedication ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, it said. by an official on Wednesday. According to the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), an umbrella body of around 800 trade organizations in Delhi, 10 lakh flags were put up in 700 markets in the capital on the occasion of the Ram Lalla ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremony.

The civic body has directed officials to keep an eye on flags, posters and banners with images of Lord Ram and take them down to prevent them from falling on the streets.

“We have directed all sanitation officials to keep an eye on such posters/banners and dispose of them with dignity to ensure that no sentiments are hurt,” a Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) official told PTI.

When asked when the process is expected to be completed, the official said the work is being carried out with the desired urgency.

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has also directed market associations in their areas to remove the decorations respectfully and dispose of them as per protocols.

“We have instructed the market associations to respectfully remove the flags and objects placed by the market associations,” the official said. Khan Market Traders’ Association president Sanjeev Mehra told PTI that they have put up 150 flags and around 2,000 meters of danglers for the occasion. “We are an environmental friendly market association and we believe in sustainability. We do not buy plastic flags or any other material. All decorative materials are made of cloth and we take them down, keep them in transparent bags and kept in the store. We will use it next year on January 22. Some flags were also stolen,” he said.

Federation on Sadar Bazar Trade Association president Rakesh Kumar Yadav said that they will remove all flag posters collecting items with Lord Ram’s name and image after the Republic Day celebrations.

They plan to give these flags to temples and ashrams.

“The damaged flags will be buried in the ground,” Yadav said.

The Trade Association has also made a public announcement to ensure that fallen fags or any other decorative items bearing the image of Lord Ram are handled with care till the time they are removed.

Meanwhile, CTI has formed a group of traders in all markets to responsibly remove flags in their respective markets.

The traders’ association has launched an initiative to carefully remove the flags and banners and keep them safe.

“Ram Lalla’s ‘pran pratishtha’ utsav has now been completed. Now, there is a need to save these sacred flags, which may fall due to wind,” CTI said in a statement.

“If these flags can be used in future, then keep them, otherwise discard them as worship material,” it added.

Ram Lalla’s ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremony took place in Ayodhya on January 22 in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.