After a 50-year endeavor by the BJP and eagerly anticipated by many, the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya is set to occur today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to fly to Ayodhya to partake in the live-televised ceremony.
Here are the key developments in this momentous event:
The consecration ceremony will be commemorated nationwide, with special prayers and diverse programs at local temples. The event is likened to Diwali, symbolizing Lord Ram’s triumphant return after defeating Ravan. Festive lighting adorns temples and homes in celebration.
Prime Minister Modi, after observing strict 11-day religious rituals in preparation, will lead the noon ceremony and address the gathering, as stated by his office.
The historic Pran Pratishtha ceremony will witness the participation of representatives from major spiritual and religious sects across the country, along with people from diverse walks of life, including tribal communities.
PM Modi will engage with the laborers responsible for constructing the Ram temple and visit Kuber Tila, where the ancient temple of Lord Shiv has been meticulously restored.
The grand 380x250 feet temple follows the traditional north-Indian Nagara style, featuring 392 pillars, 44 doors, and intricately carved walls depicting various gods and goddesses. The sanctum sanctorum houses the idol of a five-year-old Lord Ram, while the nearby Kuber Tila and ancient well (Sita koop) add to the historical significance.
Leaders from the BJP and its ideological mentor, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, have already assembled in Ayodhya to oversee the preparations for over 11,000 anticipated visitors.
The opening of the Ram temple, a focal point of a prolonged political debate, has been met with indifference by most Opposition parties, including the Congress, Left, Trinamool Congress, and the Samajwadi Party. The BJP, in response, criticizes them as anti-Hindu and predicts repercussions at the polls.
Controversies have arisen, including dissent from the Shankaracharyas of four premier monasteries, who are staying away, claiming that the consecration of an incomplete temple cannot be valid. They question the political angle associated with PM Modi being inside the sanctum sanctorum, while they have been allocated seats outside.
The construction of the temple began following a landmark 2019 Supreme Court judgment that awarded the disputed land for the temple, with an alternate plot designated for a mosque. The issue, dating back to shortly after Independence, escalated when Karsevaks razed a 16th Century mosque on the site, believing it stood on the birthplace of Lord Ram’s temple.
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