 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisting the Dharma Dhwaj | |
| Design | A right‑angled triangularsaffron flag with theSun,Om, andKovidara tree symbols |
|---|---|
Dharma Dhwaj (lit.flag ofdharma) is thesaffron (bhagwa)religious flag installed atop theRam Mandir atAyodhya,Uttar Pradesh,India.[1][2] It serves as a visible symbol ofLord Rama'sdharma, depicts the formal completion of the temple's construction, and the broader civilizational heritage associated withSanatana Dharma.[3] The flag was ceremonially hoisted on 25 November 2025 during theRam Mandir Dhwajarohan event at the temple complex in Ayodhya.[1][2]
The idea of adharma dhwaj is rooted in long‑standingHindu templepractice, where flags or banners are raised on temple spires to denote the active presence and protection of the presidingdeity.[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 ofVivaha Panchami, a festival associated with the divine marriage of Rama andSita.[5] The ceremony, held within the Ram Mandir complex, was led by Indian prime ministerNarendra Modi in the presence of religious leaders, political dignitaries and invited devotees.[1][2]
The Dharma Dhwaj is a saffron‑coloured, right‑angled triangular flag mounted on a mast fixed to the mainshikhara of the Ram Mandir.[5][3] Saffron (bhagwa) is traditionally associated with renunciation, sacrifice and commitment todharma, and is widely used in Hindu religious and monastic contexts.[6]
The flag carries several prominent symbols:
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 templedhwaja‑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]
The Dharma Dhwaj was installed and hoisted following elaborateVedic rituals conducted by priests associated with theShri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust.[1][2] The Dhwajarohan ceremony included recitation ofmantras, the sounding ofshankha 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 ancientItihasa andPuranic associations.[1][10]
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'smaryada (righteous conduct) and sovereignty, the culmination of decades of religious, legal and socio‑political efforts linked to theRam Janmabhoomi movement, and a renewed sense of Hindu cultural identity and continuity in a modern national context.[1][5]
