The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) have issued directives for the careful removal of flags and banners featuring images of Lord Ram and Hanuman, which covered city streets during the celebration of the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, as stated by an official on Wednesday.
The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI), representing approximately 800 trade organizations in Delhi, reported the placement of 10 lakh flags across 700 markets in the capital during the ‘pran pratishtha‘ ceremony of Ram Lalla.
In response, the civic bodies have instructed officials to monitor flags, posters, and banners depicting Lord Ram and ensure their orderly removal to prevent any accidental street littering.
An official from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) emphasised, “We have instructed all sanitation officers to monitor such posters/banners and dispose of them with dignity to avoid hurting sentiments.”
Regarding the completion timeline of the process, the official assured that the task is being executed with the necessary urgency.
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has similarly directed market associations to respectfully dismantle decorative items and dispose of them according to established protocols.
Sanjeev Mehra, President of the Khan Market Traders’ Association, highlighted their environmentally conscious approach, using cloth materials for the 150 flags and 2,000 meters of danglers. He added, “We have taken them down, preserved them in transparent bags, and stored them for future use.”
Rakesh Kumar Yadav, President of the Federation on Sadar Bazar Trade Association, shared plans to remove all flag posters and items bearing Lord Ram’s image after Republic Day celebrations, with damaged flags to be buried in the soil. The Trade Association intends to donate usable flags to temples and ashrams.
The CTI has mobilised a team of traders across markets to responsibly dismantle flags. They have initiated an effort to carefully take down flags and banners, urging preservation for future use or disposal as worship material.
“The ‘pran pratishtha‘ utsav of Ram Lalla has been completed now. Now, there is a need to save these sacred flags, which can fall due to wind,” stated the CTI in a release. “If these flags can be used in the future, then preserve them; otherwise, dispose of them as worship material.”
The ‘pran pratishtha‘ ceremony of Ram Lalla took place in Ayodhya on January 22 in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
(With PTI inputs)
