Houston: Members of the Hindu American community took out a massive car rally in Houston on Sunday ahead of the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple to be held in Ayodhya later this month. The rally also stopped at 11 temples on the way while singing bhajans and raising slogans of ‘Jai Shri Ram’. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA) also extended a formal invitation to the temple officials to attend the Pran Pratishtha ceremony to be held in Ayodhya on January 22.
More than 500 people carrying Indian and US flags and saffron banners bearing the image of Ram temple took out the rally with a nearly five-kilometre long queue of 216 cars. During this time, eight policemen were also present along with the rally on their motorcycles. Houston social worker Jugal Malani flagged off the rally from Shri Meenakshi Temple and it concluded after reaching Shri Sharad Amba Temple in Richmond in the afternoon.
Hundreds of Hindu-Americans came together for the Sri Ram Car Rally in Houston, USA, visiting 11 Mandirs. 🛕🔥
A vibrant celebration of culture, unity, and spiritual connections. 🙏pic.twitter.com/iReEiZ0Swg
— The Random Guy (@RandomTheGuy_) January 7, 2024
The rally covered a distance of about 160 kilometers through the busy thoroughfares of Houston and also stopped at about 11 temples during the six-hour rally. About two thousand devotees gathered in the temples, which included both young and old. During this time, the eyes of many devotees were seen moist. The procession was welcomed with hymns in the temples. VHPA said, “The devotion and love shown towards the car rally participants by more than 2,500 devotees who gathered at various temples was overwhelming. Lord Shri Ram resides in the hearts of Houstonians.” (agency)