Rituals begin, Ayodhya is all set for ‘bhoomi pujan’

Ayodhya, August 3

Religious rituals got under way in Ayodhya on Monday, two days ahead of the groundbreaking ceremony for a temple at a spot where devotees believe Lord Rama was born.

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BJP to put up LED screens across Delhi

Lighting of 11 lakh earthen lamps, a mega laser show and live telecast of the ground-breaking ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya through LED screens across Delhi are some of the events being planned by the Delhi BJP to make the occasion “memorable”.

While LK Advani and Dr Murli Manohar Joshi will attend the ceremony virtually, Uma Bharti has said she will prefer to stay away from the function due to the pandemic

Barricades are already in place in the temple town and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued an appeal, asking only those invited for Wednesday’s “bhoomi pujan” ceremony to come to Ayodhya.

Yogi Adityanath called the event “historic”. “It is not only a historic but also an emotional moment as after 500 years the Ram temple work will start. It will be the foundation of a new India,” he said.

“The Covid-19 protocol will be strictly followed at the event. As the PM will be here representing 135 crore people, I appeal that only those who have been invited should visit Ayodhya. The rest should remain at their respective places,” Adityanath said.

The ceremony will be broadcast live by Doordarshan. Twelve priests on Monday conducted prayers dedicated to Lord Ganesh. This was to be followed by prayers to the deities of the dynasties of Lord Ram and goddess Sita. On Tuesday, prayers will be offered at Ayodhya’s Hanumangarhi temple.

Among the 175 people invited for the main ceremony are 135 “sants” belonging to that many spiritual traditions, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra said in a series of tweets and at a press conference.

On the dais, there will be just five people – Narendra Modi, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, trust chief Nritya Gopaldas Maharaj, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and CM Yogi Adityanath.

Congress leader Digvijaya Singh too sounded a discordant note, asking Modi to defer the event as this was an “inauspicious” period. — PTI