Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh is set to witness a huge rush of pilgrims on January 22 for the grand opening of the Ram Mandir – when a new idol of ‘Ram Lalla’ will be placed in the sanctum sanctorum or ‘garbhagriha’ of the temple.

It’s a dream come true for many in the country. People across the states are planning to visit the temple town next month.

Ayodhya is turning into a tourist hub with people setting up homestays at their houses. The property prices have been peaking as the date of inauguration approaches. Investors, hoteliers and business owners have rushed into the city, pushing up property prices by as much as thrice the original price

Local authorities are gearing up for the anticipated surge in visitors for the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Ram Mandir, stepping up security measures and making logistical arrangements to ensure a smooth experience for the tourists.

Security cameras have been installed across the town and drones will be used to review the security, officials said. 

Officials said about 4,000 saints are expected for the mega event in Ayodhya which will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Ram Mandir Trust Secretary, however, has asked people to celebrate the event by visiting local temples in their cities and towns to avoid overcrowding in Ayodhya.

“Don’t come to Ayodhya on January 22. Assemble at the temple nearest to you, irrespective of whether its small or big. Go to the temple which is feasible for you,” said Champat Rai.

“We can’t guarantee a feast for the devotees, but we will ensure that they get basic meals and a place to sleep, if not air-conditioned rooms,” said Mr Rai.

He said that the sanctum sanctorum is ready, so is the idol, but it could take another two years for the entire temple to be constructed.

Vedic rituals for the Pran-Pratishtha ceremony will begin on January 16, a week before the main ceremony. The main rituals at the consecration ceremony will be performed by Lakshmi Kant Dixit.

The government is also planning to build a 4.40-acre Tourism Facilitation Center in Ayodhya. Under the project, various commercial centres, including a tourism office, passenger accommodation, art and craft centre, food court, shopping mart, and parking space, will be developed in the tourist centre.

The international airport being built in Ayodhya is expected to be finished by the end of this month, Union Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a press release)

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In his first remarks on the Parliament security breach last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the incident was “very serious”. He said there is “no need to debate” this and that a “detailed investigation” should be carried out.

“The seriousness of this incident should not be downplayed. The (Lok Sabha) Speaker is taking all the necessary steps. Probe agencies are investigating the matter. It is important to find out which elements are behind this and what their objectives are. There is no need to debate this, there should be a detailed investigation into this,” he told Dainik Jagran newspaper in an interview.

Shocking scenes played out in the Lok Sabha chamber Wednesday when two intruders jumped from desk to desk and deployed coloured smoke from canisters. Their co-accused staged a similar protest outside the Parliament. They have told investigators that their objective was to draw attention to Manipur violence, unemployment and farmers’ problems. A total of six people have been arrested in connection with a case so far. Delhi Police have invoked the stringent anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, against the trespassers.

The Opposition has criticised the government over the huge security breach and demanded a statement by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, however, has said the security inside Lok Sabha is under the secretariat’s purview and that it will not let the Centre intervene. “The government cannot intervene in (responsibilities of) Lok Sabha secretariat. We will not allow that either,” he said, responding to Opposition MPs’ slogans.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the security breach is a serious issue. “We are asking for the Home Minister’s statement in Parliament, but the Home Minister is not saying anything, neither is he giving a statement. He is speaking in TV shows, but not inside Parliament. This is not good for democracy,” he told reporters.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said the youngsters who breached Parliament’s security were youngsters who are jobless due to the Narendra Modi government’s policies. “The biggest issue in the country is that of unemployment, which is boiling all over the country. The country’s youth are not getting employment due to the policies of Modi ji,” he said.

The BJP hit back, saying Mr Gandhi “always talks trash” and pointing out that unemployment was at its lowest in the last six years.

“Instead, Rahul Gandhi and I.N.D.I Alliance leaders must explain the close linkages of those involved in the Parliament breach with Congress, TMC, and CPI(M),” BJP IT in-charge Amit Malviya said in a post on X.