The first flight from Delhi took off for the religious city soon after the inauguration of Ayodhya’s newly constructed Maharishi Valmiki International Airport by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (January 30). On this special occasion, Indigo flight pilot Captain Ashutosh Shekhar welcomed the passengers by saying ‘Jai Shri Ram’. News agency ANI has shared its video, in which the pilot is seen addressing the passengers.
Pilot Captain Ashutosh Shekhar told the passengers, “It is a matter of great fortune for me that today my organization IndiGo considered me worthy enough to be given the command of this important flight… It is a matter of great joy for our organization. For and for us, who are the crew of this aircraft? We hope that your journey with us will be pleasant and auspicious… Jai Shri Ram.” On this, the passengers said, Jai Shri Ram.
#WATCH | IndiGo pilot captain Ashutosh Shekhar welcomes passengers as the first flight takes off from Delhi for the newly constructed Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhya Dham, in Ayodhya, UP. pic.twitter.com/rWkLSUcPVF
— ANI (@ANI) December 30, 2023
Passengers Recited Hanuman Chalisa On Flight
In another video shared by ANI, people are seen reciting ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ on the flight during the journey to Ayodhya Dham. At the same time, it is seen in a video that as soon as the flight moves on the runway for takeoff, slogans of Jai Shri Ram start echoing from the passengers.
#WATCH | People recite ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ onboard the inaugural flight to the newly constructed Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhya Dham, in Ayodhya, UP pic.twitter.com/7H5UP666XK
— ANI (@ANI) December 30, 2023
Passengers Shared Their Experiences
The consecration of the grand Ram temple is to take place in Ayodhya on January 22, which brings a lot of happiness among the Ram devotees. Many Ram devotees are travelling to Ayodhya. Some passengers who travelled on the first flight to Ayodhya shared their experiences. According to ANI, a traveller from Rajasthan said, “We are very excited to go to Ayodhya and have also brought our children along.” We are going to Ayodhya to see Ram Lala and take his blessings.
Another passenger from Karnataka thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for boarding the first flight to Ayodhya. Jain patriarch Ravindra Kirti Swami, among the large Jain community travelling in the first flight, called it a historic day.
Another Jain community passenger said it was like a dream come true. He said, “The grand Ram temple is about to be completed. This was a dream for a long time. Now, it is close to becoming a reality. We are going to get the blessings of Ram Lala.”
