*Representational image

Far away from the "Pran Pratishtha" consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Ranchi town is now resplendent with new saffron flags and appears to be gripped by heightened religious fervour on India's political and religious history. 

All temples and roads in Ranchi city, about 630 km from Ayodhya, were bedecked with multi-colored flowers as recordings of 'Ram dhun' played from loudspeakers and townsfolk dressed as Lord Ram, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman paraded down the streets.

"Ranchi Ram maye ho gayi hai (Ranchi is immersed in the devotion of Lord Ram)," said Jagdish Gupta, who runs a fabric store on the Main Road of the town that runs past the Ram temple in Kanke Road. "And today is a day when Hindus across the world are rejoicing. So we are." 

Skittish policemen kept order, urging cars to stay mobile. But they could only honk repeatedly to part the sea of saffron flags, many with "Jai Shri Ram" painted on their foreheads in shades of ochre and vermillion. 

Loudspeakers were playing ' Jai Shri Ram' bhajans and floral patterns and illumination were visible. At night all these add to the aura of the capital city of Jharkhand, home of Adivasis. 

Many Adivasis were spotted watching Prime Minister Narendra Modi performing concentration function inside Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

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