Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday termed Lord Ram as a "unifying force for all" after witnessing the sacred Ram Setu from above while returning from his official visit to Sri Lanka.
Terming it a moment of spiritual importance, the Prime Minister said that the sighting coincided with the auspicious 'Surya Tilak' ceremony at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on the Ram Navami festival.
Posting on X (ex-Twitter), PM Modi said, "Returning from Sri Lanka some time back, was fortunate enough to have a Darshan of the Ram Setu. And, as it was a divine coincidence, that happened simultaneously when the Surya Tilak was happening at Ayodhya. Fortunate enough to have the Darshan of both."
"Prabhu Shri Ram is a unifying force for all of us. May His blessings always be upon us," he added, appealing to the spiritual harmony Lord Ram represents all over the country.
In Ayodhya, meanwhile, the Ram Navami celebrations witnessed a unique spiritual moment as a sunbeam exactly fell on the forehead of the Ram Lalla idol — an event referred to as 'Surya Tilak'. The temple, beautifully lit with lights and colorful flower arrangements, was hosting a huge group of worshippers. The festivities were also given a boost as drones showered devotees with sacred water from the Saryu River and more than two lakh diyas were to be lit in the evening.
Meanwhile, PM Modi’s itinerary included a major infrastructural inauguration in Rameswaram, where he is unveiling India's first vertical lift railway sea bridge at Pamban — a key engineering feat that combines cultural heritage with modern innovation.
Stretching 2.08 km and constructed at a cost of ₹550 crore, the new Pamban Bridge features 99 spans and a 72.5-metre-long vertical lift span capable of rising up to 17 metres to enable ships to pass underneath. Weighing 660 metric tons, this cutting-edge lift span is the epitome of indigenous technology and is constructed with facilities to make room for double railway tracks in the future.
Prior to the inauguration, a coordination meeting at the highest level was convened with top officials from Indian Railways, police, and intelligence agencies to facilitate a secure and smooth event.
Emphasizing the significance of the bridge, Indian Railways posted on April 5, "Bridging the past, lifting the new, Pamban stands tall with a breathtaking view. This Ram Navami, witness the unveiling of India's first vertical lift railway sea bridge."
The bridge is expected to revolutionize access to the island town of Rameswaram, a pilgrim place of great importance in the Ramayana epic and one of the most prominent pilgrimages of Lord Ram's followers.
During his visit, PM Modi will also be visiting the Ramanathaswamy Temple — one of the 12 Jyotirlingas — at approximately 12:45 p.m. on Monday. His visit to the temple represents the coming together of cultural heritage and infrastructural development in one of India's most sacred towns.
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