Ayodhya will host the ceremonial opening of a temple dedicated to the well-known Hindu deity Ram by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi.
Latest news Updates : Replaced in 1992 by Hindu rioters, it was a 16th-century mosque. Almost 2,000 people lost their lives in widespread riots that were started by the demolition.
The temple satisfies a decades-long promise made by Hindu nationalists to erect a shrine to Lord Ram in the city of flashpoints.
But the majority of the opposition and several Hindu seers are staying aside, claiming that Mr. Modi is exploiting it for political advantage.
Many Hindus hold that Ram was born in Ayodhya, and that Muslim conquerors erected the Babri mosque on the site of a Ram temple, marking the exact location of the Hindu god’s birth.
One of the main reasons the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rose to political prominence in the 1990s.
Built on a 70-acre complex, the $217 million (£170 million) new three-story building is anchored by black granite and composed of pink sandstone. It spans 7.2 acres.
Only the temple’s ground floor will be open by Mr. Modi; the additional sections should be finished by year’s end.
Last week saw the unveiling of a 51-inch (4.25-foot) statue of the deity that was specially commissioned for the temple. The idol is situated in the sanctum sanctorum atop a marble pedestal.
The name of the ritual on Monday is Pran Pratishtha, which means “establishment of life force” in Sanskrit. Hindus hold that an idol or picture of a deity will come to life with sacred energy if certain rituals are conducted around a fire and mantras are chanted.
Mr. Modi stated that “the entire country is eagerly waiting for 22 January” and referred to the temple as a significant accomplishment.
He stated in a statement earlier this month that “many generations had looked forward to this moment” and that he would be “representing all of India’s 140 million people” during the consecration ceremony.
However, things have taken a negative turn when prominent religious figures claim that since the temple is still under construction, it is improper for Hindus to perform these rites there, and numerous opposition leaders have chosen to abstain.
In the next months, India will hold general elections. According to Mr. Modi’s political opponents, the ruling BJP will run for office on the temple’s name in a nation where 80% of people identify as Hindu.
A few states governed by the opposition have also revealed their own plans for the day. Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal, said she will lead an interfaith demonstration after praying at Kolkata’s famous Kali temple.
Huge plans to attract people to the Jagannath temple in Puri, one of the holiest places for Hindus, have been revealed by the eastern state of Odisha (Orissa).
All paths, however, lead to the new temple in Ayodhya. Thousands of police officers have been sent in to control traffic and maintain security. Major highways are adorned with BJP flags in saffron hue and flags featuring Hindu gods; many of these have been garlanded with marigold flowers in vivid yellow and orange.
As soon as the temple is completed, authorities anticipate seeing more than 150,000 tourists per day.
[…] that Ram was born in Ayodhya, and that Muslim conquerors erected the Babri mosque on the site of a Ram Mandir, marking the exact location of the Hindu god’s […]