Ram Temple idol consecration ceremony: From Dalai Lama to Rajinikanth to Adani, guest list to include people from all walks of life

“Four thousand saints have been invited, representing different traditions across the country, from every state — right from Arunachal Pradesh to Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Andaman Nicobar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh. Religious leaders of 125 different sects have been invited, mahants of 13 Akhadas, acharyas of six darshan, Shankaracharyas to Baba Ramdev and Amma of Kerala Maa Amrtanandamayi to Dalai Lama and Rahul Bodhi from Mumbai,” said Rai.

The guest list also includes Director of ISRO’s Space Application Centre Nilesh M Desai, CBRI scientist Debi Dutta, who according to Rai did the homework to ensure that on Ram Navami, the sunlight would directly fall on the forehead of the Ram Lalla statue.

Stating that the guest list has been prepared after much deliberations, Rai said representatives from sports, scientists, media houses, and veteran journalists who were active between 1984 and 1992 have all been invited.

Retired officials of UP Police, who were posted in Ayodhya in 1992 including “then DIG” would be invited as guests for Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha,” Rai added. He said that only 25 RSS office bearers and not more than 100 people from Vishwa Hindu Parishad have been invited.

Rai also said that 10-15 per cent of workmen engaged in construction would be given the invite.

According to Rai, the puja for the Pran Pratishtha would start from January 16 and the actual “muhrat” would be around 12 noon on January 22, when the Pran Pratishtha ceremony would be performed. He added that after the actual event, puja would continue for another 48 days.

For the Pran Pratishtha ceremony, he said accommodation has been made for 1,000 people at Karsewakpuram, while accommodation for another 850 people has been made at Yoga and Prakratik Centre of Nritya Gopal Das.

“Further, residents of Ayodhya, temples, and ashrams will provide accommodations to the arriving guests.

“An accommodation for 12,000 people has been prepared at newly established tent city over 45 acres of land at Teerthakshetra Puram area known as Baag Bijausi. There will be dormitories, blankets, quilts, and toilet facilities. Another accommodation has been prepared near Mani Parwat for 3,500 saints, who would be participating in the event,” Rai said.