Since the consecration ceremony of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir in January 2024, the splendid clothing worn by Ram Lalla has sparked passionate discussions and garnered admiration. Therefore, on the occasion of Ram Lalla’s inaugural Surya Tilak ceremony in Ayodhya, held today on the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami, we interviewed textile designer Manish Tripathi, the creative force behind the vibrant yellow-pink attire known as the poshak.
Ram Lalla’s attire
The outfit adorned by Ram Lalla took nearly 20-22 days to make, shared Manish. “I feel extremely blessed. I cannot describe it in words. It feels ethereal to have witnessed the Surya Tilak ceremony in person. I had tears in my eyes. I came to deliver the poshak last evening and stayed back to witness the grandeur of Ram Lalla,” the NIFT Delhi graduate, who is a devout “Ram devotee”, told Indian Express.
Interestingly, the foundational hue of the poshak, known as Pithambar Poshak, is consistently yellow, adorned with complementary colors such as red and pink. Today, the accentuating color was pink. “Today’s poshak was made out of khadi and handloom silk. It also has lotus motifs adorning it,” shared Manish, a Delhi-based textile designer and caricature artist.
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Recalling his journey, Manish, who also designs Indian army combat uniforms, as well as for IPL, BCCI, and other celebrities, opened up about his association with the Uttar Pradesh Khadi and Village Industries Board that began in 2021. “The designed textiles were presented to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Ever since I have been in constant touch,” said Manish, who is currently a consultant with the Ministry of Skills, Government of India.
With an interest in Indian crafts and heritage, he has made it his life’s goal to promote Indian weaves and handicrafts. “I am always inclined toward handloom crafts. We have a huge network of weavers from across the country. It would not be wrong to say that having seen Ram Lalla in our creations, it feels as if Ram Lalla himself is promoting Indian textiles like Khadi, Jamdani, Pochampali, and more on a global scale,” expressed an excited Manish.
In an exclusive conversation with indianexpress.com, he went on to express gratitude that he got an opportunity to design every poshak that is adorned by Ram Lalla. “Each day, a new poshak is worn. Every poshak is air couriered from Delhi to Ayodhya. I feel a beautiful connection with Ram Lalla and his golden grace,” said Manish, who is also in the process of designing handkerchiefs to “wipe the face of Ram Lalla”.
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