Ayodhya Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony: 10 updates on celebrations, controversies and more
has thanked the Ram Mandir trust for inviting him to the ceremony. However, the Samajwadi Party leader will visit the temple with his family only after the event. Yadav received the invitation on January 13.
Swami Nishchalanand Saraswati believes the ceremony has become "politicised". He believes so largely because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's involvement. As a result, the Shankaracharya of Puri Govardhan Peeth has chosen not to attend the ceremony.
Senior Congress leader TS Singh Deo has expressed scepticism about the timing of the 'Pran Patishtha' ceremony. He has questioned political motives as the Lok Sabha elections is happening in a few months. Earlier, top Congress leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury declined invitations while calling it a BJP-RSS event.
Amish Tripathi has countered Congress' criticism of BJP's event at the unfinished Ram Temple. He has noted that, historically, temple construction may take centuries. He has highlighted that, once the Garbhagriha is complete and the idol installed, the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony is permissible.
The Congress leadership has decided not to attend the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya on January 22. However, the Uttar Pradesh Congress unit will still conduct its own event in Ayodhya on January 15. Ajay Rai, the state president, along with other senior leaders and about 100 Congress members, will participate in this event.
Uttar Pradesh's government, led by Yogi Adityanath, is preparing to transform Ayodhya. A large floating screen will be installed at Chaudhary Charan Singh Ghat. It will be India's largest floating screen.
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