Senior leaders of the Uttar Pradesh Congress made a beeline for Ayodhya on Makar Sankranti today, notwithstanding their Central leaders’ refusal to attend the Ram temple consecration ceremony, or the party line that the BJP and its ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh are using the event to gain political milage ahead of the Lok Sabha election. When asked, they indicated that it was a personal visit. “Lord Ram belongs to everyone,” was the refrain.

Leaders of the UP Congress have already declared that they would attend the consecration event. Today, they took a dip in Saryu river, had the Darshan of Ram Lalla and went to Hanumangarhi.

Asked if their action was not a deviation from the party line, UP leader Avinash Pande said party chief Mallikarjun Kharge has openly said that “those who have faith can go”.

“We have not invited anyone to attend, nor are we stopping anyone from attending,” he quoted Mr Kharge as saying.

The Congress is against the way this event is being politicised and used to create rift in society, he added.   

Rajya Sabha MP and Haryana Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda, who was among the UP contingent that included state Congress chief Ajai Rai and senior leader Avdesh Pratap Singh, insisted that he was a regular visitor.

“I came last year too. Today on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti, I have to gaze upon Ram Lalla and seek his blessings. This is how I recharge,” he said.

Asked about the party line, he refused to take any “political question”. “Ram does not belong to any particular person. He belongs to everyone,” he added.

Last week, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury declined the invite for January 22 temple consecration.

“Religion is a personal matter. But the RSS/BJP have long made a political project of the temple in Ayodhya. The inauguration of the incomplete temple by the leaders of the BJP and the RSS has been obviously brought forward for electoral gain,” read a statement from senior party leader Jairam Ramesh.

As the BJP erupted in vociferous condemnation, Mr Kharge said it was not the party’s intention to hurt anyone’s religious sentiments.

“Our issue is this – what work is the PM doing to ensure jobs for the public? What steps is he taking to control inflation? What is he doing for poor people… People having faith can go (to the temple) today… they can go tomorrow also,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and more than 6,000 people are expected to attend the mega event of January 22 – the consecration of the Ram temple.

The BJP has alleged that the Congress leaders who declined the January 22 invite have “lost their minds” as Ravana did in “Treta Yug”. For this, they will be punished by the people, the party leaders have insisted.

The press conference for the 69th Hyundai Filmfare Awards 2024 with Gujarat Tourism was held today. Among the celebrity guests at the event were Karan Johar, Janhvi Kapoor and Varun Dhawan.

A Ram Lalla idol sculpted by Mysuru’s Arun Yogiraj has been selected for Ayodhya’s Ram temple, Temple Trust’s general secretary Champat Rai said on Monday.

Speaking at a press conference in Ayodhya, Mr Rai said the idol of Ram Lalla sculpted by Mr Yogiraj has been selected by the trust from among three idols. The idols have been carved separately by three sculptors, he said.

The new idol is made of stone and weighs “somewhere between 150-200 kgs”, Mr Rai told reporters.

He also said the idol depicts the deity as a five-year-old boy in a standing posture.

Mr Rai said the current idol of Ram Lalla, which has been worshipped for the last 70 years, will also be kept in the sanctum sanctorum of the new temple.

The “pran pratishtha” (consecration ceremony) of the Ram temple in Ayodhya will be organised on January 22 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance.

Over 7,000 people have been invited by the temple trust for the grand ceremony.

Ram Temple Consecration Ceremony Begins Today

The preparations for the inauguration of the Ram temple are in full swing and the formal procedures for the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla will begin today.

The event is scheduled to be held over seven days:

January 16 to 22

The rituals for the consecration ceremony will begin today. The host appointed by the temple trust — Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra — will conduct the atonement ceremony.

The ‘Dashvidh’ bath, Vishnu worship and offering of cow will be held on the banks of Saryu river.

January 17

A procession carrying the idol of Ram Lalla will reach Ayodhya. Devotees carrying Saryu water in Mangal Kalash will be reaching the Ram Janmabhoomi temple.

January 18

The formal rituals will begin with the Ganesh Ambika puja, Varun puja, Matrika puja, Brahmin Varan and Vastu Puja.

January 19

The holy fire will be lit, followed by the establishment of ‘Navagraha’ and a ‘havan’ (holy ritual surrounding the fire).

January 20

The sanctum sanctorum of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple will be washed with Saryu water on January 20, after which the Vaastu Shanti and ‘Annadhivas’ rituals will take place.

January 21

The Ram Lalla idol will be bathed in 125 urns and will finally be laid to rest.

January 22

The main “pran pratishtha” ceremony will begin at 12:30 pm on January 22 and the deity of Ram Lalla will be consecrated. Devotees from 150 countries are likely to attend the consecration ceremony on the final day.

The temple will remain closed for devotees on January 21 and 22 and will open for the public on January 23.