The consecration ceremony, celebrating Lord Ram’s return after the battle with Ravan, will be observed nationwide and among Indians abroad, marked by special prayers and local temple programs. The occasion is reminiscent of Diwali, with temples and houses adorned in festive lighting.
Prime Minister Modi, after observing an 11-day religious ritual, is set to preside over the historic Pran Pratishtha ceremony at noon. He will address the gathering, engaging with laborers involved in constructing the 380×250 feet Ram temple in the traditional north-Indian Nagara style.
Representatives from major spiritual and religious sects, as well as various tribal communities, will attend the Pran Pratishtha ceremony. PM Modi will also visit Kuber Tila, where the ancient temple of Lord Shiv has been restored, and interact with workers involved in the construction.
The Ram temple features 392 pillars, 44 doors, and walls adorned with elaborate carvings of gods and goddesses. The sanctum sanctorum houses the idol of a five-year-old Lord Ram, while the nearby Kuber Tila has a well (Sita koop) dating back to ancient times.
Leaders of the BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh have been present in Ayodhya, which has undergone significant developments to accommodate over 11,000 visitors. The inauguration of the Ram temple has led to economic growth, with the transformation of Ayodhya into a bustling town featuring an international airport and renovated railway station.
Most opposition parties, including the Congress, Left, Trinamool Congress, and the Samajwadi Party, have given a cold shoulder to the Ram temple’s opening, accusing the BJP of exploiting religion for political gains in an election year.
The BJP has criticized those declining the invitation, including Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, labeling them as anti-Hindu and suggesting electoral consequences. Controversies surround the event, with Shankaracharyas from four premier monasteries staying away, arguing that consecrating an incomplete temple is inappropriate. They question PM Modi’s presence inside the sanctum sanctorum, alleging a political angle to the event.
The construction of the temple began following a landmark 2019 Supreme Court judgment, which awarded the disputed land for the temple and allocated an alternate plot for a mosque to Muslims.
The contentious issue originated shortly after Independence and escalated when Karsevaks demolished a 16th-century mosque on the site, believing it was built over a temple marking the birthplace of Lord Ram.
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