Lata Mangeshkar Chowk and the Giant Veena

The place

At the crossing where the road to Naya Ghat meets Ram Path and Dharma Path stands a large circular plaza with a single striking sculpture at its centre: a veena, the classical stringed instrument associated with Goddess Saraswati, about 40 feet long and weighing roughly 14 tonnes. This is Lata Mangeshkar Chowk, opened in September 2022 on what would have been the singer's ninety-third birthday.

Why a singer is honoured in Ram's city

Lata Mangeshkar, who died in February 2022, was the best-known voice in Indian music for seven decades. Among her thousands of recordings are bhajans to Ram that several generations grew up hearing at dawn in their homes. The Ramayana itself came to the world as song: Luv and Kush sang it to the veena before Ram's court, and Tulsidas wrote his verses to be sung. A monument to music at the entrance to the riverfront is in keeping with the city's oldest tradition.

What you will see

The veena rests on a raised platform ringed by a water body with lotus-shaped features. Its surface is finely worked with decorative detail, and it was created by the noted sculptor Ram Sutar. In the evening the sculpture and fountains are illuminated and devotional music is played, and the plaza fills with families and pilgrims walking down to the ghats.

Visiting

• It is a public crossing; you will pass it on the way to the river. The best photographs are from the pedestrian areas around the edge.
• Traffic moves around the circle, so use the marked crossings, hold children's hands, and do not step into the road for a picture.
• From here it is a short walk to Naya Ghat for the evening aarti and to Ram ki Paidi.

It makes a natural starting point for an evening on the riverfront; see Ayodhya in one day.