Dharma Dhwaj (lit. flag of dharma) is the saffron (bhagwa) religious flag installed atop the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India.[1][2] It serves as a visible symbol of Lord Rama'sdharma, depicts the formal completion of the temple's construction, and the broader civilizational heritage associated with Sanatana Dharma.[3] The flag was ceremonially hoisted on 25 November 2025 during the Ram Mandir Dhwajarohan event at the temple complex in Ayodhya.[1][2]
The idea of a dharma dhwaj is rooted in long‑standing Hindu templepractice, where flags or banners are raised on temple spires to denote the active presence and protection of the presiding deity.[4] In this context, the Dharma Dhwaj of Ayodhya's Ram Mandir is intended to signify that Lord Rama is enthroned at his traditional birthplace and that the construction of the temple has reached ritual completion.[1][2]
The flag was hoisted on 25 November 2025, coinciding with the observance of Vivaha Panchami, a festival associated with the divine marriage of Rama and Sita.[5] The ceremony, held within the Ram Mandir complex, was led by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi in the presence of religious leaders, political dignitaries and invited devotees.[1][2]
Design and symbolism
The Dharma Dhwaj is a saffron‑coloured, right‑angled triangular flag mounted on a mast fixed to the main shikhara of the Ram Mandir.[5][3] Saffron (bhagwa) is traditionally associated with renunciation, sacrifice and commitment to dharma, and is widely used in Hindu religious and monastic contexts.[6]
The flag carries several prominent symbols:
a stylised Sun (Surya), representing the Solar dynasty to which Lord Rama belongs, and symbolising illumination, vitality and the sustaining power of righteousness;[3]
the sacred syllable Om (ॐ), denoting the primordial sound and the essence of Vedic and Upanishadic spiritual tradition;[3]
a sacred tree motif, often identified with the Kovidara or a similar auspicious tree, symbolising shelter, continuity and the flourishing of dharma across generations.[3]
Flagstaff and engineering
The Dharma Dhwaj is mounted on a tall metallic mast anchored to the superstructure of the Ram Mandir.[7] At the height of 161 feet, the flag is 22 feet long and 11 feet wide. It is made of parachute-grade fabric and is designed to withstand harsh weather and strong wind up to 60 kmph.[8] It is designed by Gujarati artisans using high‑strength materials such as premium silk threads along with modern engineering methods to retain the traditional appearance of a temple dhwaja‑stambha.[7] Reports describe the mast in Ayodhya as a custom‑fabricated, heavy structure equipped with a mechanised system for raising and lowering the flag, blending ritual requirements with contemporary safety standards.[5][9]
Rituals and installation
The Dharma Dhwaj was installed and hoisted following elaborate Vedic rituals conducted by priests associated with the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust.[1][2] The Dhwajarohan ceremony included recitation of mantras, the sounding of shankha and temple bells, and devotional music coordinated with other temples and monasteries in Ayodhya.[1][5]
Organisers and public representatives presented the hoisting of the flag as the ritual sign of the Ram Mandir's completion, a declaration of Rama's presence and sovereignty at his birthplace, and a symbol of cultural and spiritual resurgence linking present‑day Ayodhya to its ancient Itihasa and Puranic associations.[1][10]
Religious significance
Within Sanatana Dharma, a temple flag is often regarded as an essential marker of a functioning shrine, representing the deity's active grace and protection for devotees and for the surrounding region.[11] The fluttering of the Dharma Dhwaj at Ayodhya is intended to signal the flow of spiritual merit, blessings and dharmic inspiration to pilgrims and observers.[3]
For many devotees, the Dharma Dhwaj of the Ram Mandir functions as a focal symbol of Rama's maryada (righteous conduct) and sovereignty, the culmination of decades of religious, legal and socio‑political efforts linked to the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, and a renewed sense of Hindu cultural identity and continuity in a modern national context.[1][5]
↑Fuller, C. J. (2004). The Camphor Flame: Popular Hinduism and Society in India. Princeton University Press. pp.44–46. ISBN978-0691120485.
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