Ayodhya Ram Mandir Inauguration: From Sachin Tendulkar to Hema Malini, here’s what some bigshots said

Here’s what they had to say:

Sachin Tendulkar

Former captain of the Indian cricket  team and Rajya Sabha member Sachin Tendulkar expressed his happiness at being a part of the ceremony, and awe at the architecture of the temple.

He said, “Happy to be at the new Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Its astounding architecture is set to impress anyone who pays a visit. Glad to have received Shri Ram’s blessings.”

Former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar arrives to attend the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of the Ram Mandir, in Ayodhya, Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. (PTI Photo)

Kailash Satyarthi

Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi, was also invited to the ceremony. The Indian social activist and reformer implored people to mark the event as a new beginning without war and make it violence free.

He said, “…Ayodhya means ‘free from war’. Our resolve should be to make the world violence free. Ram was an ocean of compassion. Let us leave all the old discrimination, animosity and distance from today and make a new beginning.”

सुमेधा जी और मैं अयोध्या में हैं। यहां आस्था और संस्कृति का ऐतिहासिक उत्सव चल रहा है। अयोध्या का अर्थ “युद्ध से मुक्त” होता है। हमारा संकल्प विश्व को हिंसा मुक्त बनाना होना चाहिए। राम करुणा के सागर थे। आइए,आज से हम सभी पुराने भेदभाव, वैमनस्य और दूरियां छोड़ कर एक नई शुरुआत करें। pic.twitter.com/EsIfos7SJI

— Kailash Satyarthi (@k_satyarthi) January 22, 2024

Hema Malini

“I feel blessed to have attended the historical and spiritually enriching Pran Pratishtha of Ram Lalla – an event awaited by our nation for 500 years,” said the actor, producer and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha member in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

I feel blessed to have attended the historical and spiritually enriching Pran Prathishta of Ram Lalla – an event awaited by our nation for 500 yrs🙏 pic.twitter.com/w1sH29YnEb

— Hema Malini (@dreamgirlhema) January 22, 2024

General Manoj Naravane (Retd)

Former Indian Army Chief General Manoj Naravane said, “At Ayodhya for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony. Historic occassion for the country.

Venkatesh Prasad

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), former Indian cricketer Venkatesh Prasad expressed his admiration to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for having “fullfilled” India’s “unfullfilled dream of 500 years.” He said through PM Modi’s leadership and 11-day anusthaan, this goal could be achieved.

His post read, “We are very very fortunate to have @narendramodi as our Prime Minister. The leadership that was required to ensure this unfulfilled dream of 500 years gets fulfilled provided by him and the Anusthaan that he has followed for the last 11 days , wow. 22nd Jan, Just not a date but a reclaim. Ram Lalla is here and no greater joy than this, Jai Shree Ram.”

Ek hi Naara Ek hi Naam
Jai Shree Ram Hai Shree Ram

Ayodhyapati Shree Ramchandra ji ki jai pic.twitter.com/WFadi7aBzO

— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) January 22, 2024

Sanjeev Kapoor

Celebrity chef Sanjeev Kapoor also took to X to express his experience of ceremony.

He wrote, “Feeling humbled and grateful standing before the divine Ayodhya Ram Mandir.” He further wrote that the he was truly blessed for being a part of “this surreal moment”.

Feeling humbled and grateful standing before the divine Ayodhya Ram Mandir.

Truly blessed to be here for this surreal moment.

जय श्री राम 🙏@Alyonakapoor#PranPratishtha #Ayodhya #RamMandir #rammandirspecial #rammandirayodhya #rammandirpranpratishtha #rammandirbhumipujan… pic.twitter.com/E353b9BYWY

— Sanjeev Kapoor (@SanjeevKapoor) January 22, 2024

Mithali Raj

The former captain of the Indian women’s national cricket team, Raj, called the experience of witnessing the consecration of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir idol “incredible.”

The former cricketer wrote on X, “An incredible day in Ayodhya, witnessing the sacred #RamMandirPranPrathistha. Feeling truly blessed to seek divine blessings from Bhagwan Shri Ram at his majestic temple. This day shall stay with me forever.”

Former cricketer at the Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir inauguration ceremony. (Source: X/@M_Raj03)

Ajay Devgn

Bollywood actor, director Ajay Devgn also wrote on X, “Can’t believe I’m lucky enough to witness something as historic & auspicious as #RamMandirPranPrathistha in my lifetime. Proud to see how our entire nation has united to welcome our Ram Lalla back home in Ayodhya!”

However, this is not where the list ends. Coming to the leaders in politics, the ceremony saw party bigwhigs, chief ministers, and several eminent party leaders at the event. From Odisha to Gujarat, and Maharashtra to Chhattisgarh, here’s what some of the state government leaders said about this historic day.

Naveen Patnaik

While the Odisha Chief Minister wasn’t at the Ayodhya event in person, he virtually attended the consecration ceremony.

The Biju Janata Dal leader wrote in a post on X, “Witnessed the auspicious #RamMandirPranPrathistha being held at #Ayodhya. Delighted to see the nation coming together with religious fervour for the #PranPratistha.”

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik watches Sri Ram Llla ‘Pran Pratishtha’ on telivision, in Bhubaneswar, Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. (Source: X/ @Naveen_Odisha)

Bhupendra Patel

BJP leader and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel called the day “historic” and extended his prayers to Lord Ram for the continuity of development works under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

He said, “This is a historic occasion as the wait of all Indians (for a Ram temple in Ayodhya) has come to an end. We pray to Lord Ram that development works continue uninterruptedly under the leadership of the Prime Minister.”

The Chief Minister watched the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya live on TV with BJP workers and local residents at Shilaj village in his Ghatlodia constituency.

Devendra Fadnavis

Though Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar were not at the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya either, Fadnavis said the temple marked the beginning of a new identity for India. The BJP leader further implored all to visit Ayodhya for Lord Ram’s darshan.

He said, “The grand temple at Ayodhya, which was inaugurated by PM Modi, is the beginning of a new era of India’s identity. It is time for all section sof soceity to get equal rights. Let us all got to Ayodhya to have darshan of Ram Lalla.”

Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attended a live screening of the consecration ceremony with the residents of Harijan Colony in Guwahati’s Fatasil Ambari. Along with Cabinet minister Ashok Singhal, he also felicitated kar sevaks from Assam at Fatasil Ambari.

Taking to X, Sarma wrote, “The return of Dashrathnandan Ram to His Bhavya Mandir marks a turning point in our civilisation and a reawakening of national consciousness .  The sacred events, we in Bharat collectively witnessed today, has inspired more than a thousand future generations to uphold Sanatan Dharma to its fullest glory. As Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji leads the nation to restore a vital dharmic and sanskritik link, I am eternally grateful to Prabhu Shri Ram for allowing me to exist in this particular time of history, a Swarnim Yug.”

Assam Chief Minister Hemanta Biswa Sarma watches the the inauguration of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir live from Guwahati on Jan 22, 2024. (Source: X/@himantabiswa)

VISHNU DEO SAI

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said, “This is a day of great pride not only for the country, but for the entire world.” The BJP leader added, “t isa historic day. After a long struggle of 500 years, the Lord Ram idol has been consecrated (at the Ayodhya temple).”

PUSHKAR SINGH DHAM

Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, took virtual darshan from Tapkeshwar, and prayed to Lord Ram for the happiness and prosperity of the state.

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He praised PM Modi’s leadership in the inauguration of the temple and said, “It is a great privilege for all of us to witness the restoration of the glory of Sanatan culture in the form of the Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami with family offers prayers at Tapkeshwar Mahadev Mandir on the occasion of ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony at Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir, in Dehradun, Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. (PTI Photo)

MANOHAR LAL KHATTAR

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar paid obeisance at Karneshwar Mahadev temple and briefly addressed a gathering there. He watched the live telecast of the Ayodhya Ram Temple consecration programme in his constituency, Karnal.

“Today every Indian… is overwhelmed with devotion towards Shri Ram. The struggle of our generations and the resolve of centuries has been completed today,” he said.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar watches the ceremony live from his constituency, Karnal. (Source: X/ @mlkhattar)