Ayodhya Ram Mandir Inauguration Highlights: With one day to go for consecration, eyes of the Ram Lalla idol to be opened today

As the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha program approaches in Uttar Pradesh, Ayodhya Zone IG Praveen Kumar has stated that comprehensive preparations are underway. Rehearsals are being conducted, and coordination with various agencies is ongoing. Drones are employed for surveillance to enhance security measures. Emphasizing the safety of guests, every possible effort is being made. An appeal has been made to the public to plan their visit for darshan after January 23.

The day of the ‘pran pratishtha‘ (consecration) of the Ram Lalla idol at Ayodhya’s Ram temple is just two days away. The consecration ceremony will be held on January 22, and various formal procedures preceding it, which began Tuesday, are currently underway.

The live screening of the inauguration of the Rs 1,200-crore Ram temple will be held between 11 am and 1 pm on January 22. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also urged people across the country to light a ‘Shree Ram Jyoti’ in their houses on the day.

The entire ceremony will be broadcast live on DD News. The international audience can watch the ceremony over the YouTube channel of Doordarshan National.

In Ayodhya, the anticipation for the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha grows as Chief Priest Acharya Satyendra Das emphasizes the sanctity of the upcoming ceremony. He reveals that the eyes of Lord Ram's idol cannot be unveiled until after the Pran Pratishtha is accomplished. According to him, the real idol is one where the eyes remain concealed, and any images suggesting otherwise warrant investigation. As the community awaits this significant event, the priest's statements add an air of mystery and reverence to the preparations for the sacred ritual.

“Jaasu birhan sochahu dinn raati, rat-hu nirantar gun gann paanti; Raghukul tilak sujan sukhdata, aayau kusal dev muni trata.”

The long-awaited day has finally arrived, marking the end of centuries of anticipation, generations of struggle, and the fulfilment of the vow made by our ancestors. Tomorrow, the soul of Sanatan culture, ‘Raghunandan Raghav Ram Lalla’, is set to be enshrined in a grand and divine temple in his birthplace, Awadhpuri. This historic and sacred occasion, after a gap of 500 years, has overwhelmed not just India but the entire world, with all eyes fixed on the ‘mokshadayani’ Ayodhya. Tomorrow, every road will lead to Shri Ram Janmabhoomi. Every eye will be wet with tears of joy and satisfaction. And, everyone will be chanting ‘Ram-Ram’. (Read More)

The market at Kurawali, a small town in Mainpuri district of Uttar Pradesh, is being decked with lights and Shri Ram flags. Ajaypal Singh, 28, from Ashokpur Village adjacent to the town, is beaming with excitement.

Munching peanuts next to a fire to beat the biting cold, Singh says, “People’s faith has been associated with Ram for centuries and, on January 22, decades of tapasya (penance) will come true. For us, under Yogi-Modi, this is Ram Rajya. Post-January 22, all deities will come on Earth, it is our faith.”

Asaduddin Owaisi On Ram Mandir: On the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha, AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi said that once Muslims offered namaz in Babri Masjid for 500 years. He also recalled Congress' GB Pant's tenure as the CM of Uttar Pradesh when idols were placed inside the masjid. Furthermore, he added that Ram Mandir did not exist when VHP was formed. He added, "Mahatma Gandhi never mentioned anything about Ram Mandir. Very systematically, Babri Masjid has been taken away from Indian Muslims... Had GB Pant removed those idols back then and had the Masjid not been demolished in 1992, we wouldn't have to see how they are today..." Owaisi also spoke about Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and his plans of organising "Sunderkand Paath and Hanuman Chalisa every Tuesday." He said, "Nobody speaks anything about this because they are all busy targeting the votes of the majority community..."

Less than 48 hours before the consecration scheduled for January 22, an elaborate and protracted set of rituals around the 51-inch idol of Ram Lalla were completed Saturday.

The new idol’s eyes, still covered with cloth, underwent different “adhivas” rituals, which involved draping the entire frame in a variety of flowers brought from locations across the country including Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Kolkata, sources involved in the rituals told The Indian Express.

Flowers adorning the temple, special lights to enhance the aesthetic appeal — with barely 24 hours to go, the Ram Temple in Ayodhya is all set for the consecration ceremony.

On Saturday, the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust released images showcasing the temple being adorned with “rich stocks” of flowers.

“These are all natural flowers and due to winter can last longer. So they will remain fresh on the day of the consecration ceremony. The fragrance and the aesthetic appeal of these vibrant flowers have lent another layer of divinity to the temple,” a source told PTI. (Click here to see more)

On Saturday, the chief priest of the Ram temple urged an inquiry after the photographs displaying the uncovered eyes of the idol of Ram Lalla were leaked before its January 22 consecration.

The first image, depicting the new idol within the sanctum sanctorum veiled with a cloth over its eyes, surfaced on social media late Thursday night. Subsequently, photos without the cover circulated on various social media platforms the following day.

"The eyes of Lord Ram's idol cannot be revealed before the 'Pran Pratishtha' is completed. If the eyes can be seen, an investigation should be done on who revealed the eyes and how the pictures of the idol went viral on social media," chief priest Satyendra Das said.

As many as 14 couples from various parts of the country will perform the duty of 'yajmans' (hosts) during the Ram temple consecration ceremony here on January 22.

Sunil Ambekar, the Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), said that according to the information given by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust the rituals commenced on January 16 and today was the fifth day.

#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: Devotees including foreign devotees arrive at Ayodhya ahead of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Temple on 22nd January. pic.twitter.com/mJIi0aQ7Rm

— ANI (@ANI) January 20, 2024

Delhi Meat Merchant Association general secretary Irshad Qureshi on Saturday appealed to all traders selling meat and fish to close their shops here on January 22 in honour of the Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya.

All slaughter houses in Delhi along with the shops selling meat and fish have been asked to keep their businesses closed for the day respecting the sentiments of the people for the "pran pratishtha" ceremony in Ayodhya. PTI

The Ram temple in Ayodhya is being built in the Nagara style of temple architecture

BJP president J P Nadda will skip the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya and instead watch the historic event from the Jhandewalan temple here.

In a post on X on Saturday, he thanked the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, which is in charge of the temple's construction and management, for inviting him to the January 22 "Pran Pratishtha" event.

Noting that the grand temple is being built after 500 years of struggle, he said he will visit it with his family after January 22 for "darshan".

???? ???? ??? ???????? ????? ??????? ????? ?? ??? ?? ???? ??????? ?? ??? ??? ????? ?? ????? ????????? ?? ???? ????????? ?? ???????? ??????? ??? ??? ???????? ?? ??? ??? ???? ??? ???????? ????? ??????? ????? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ????

500 ??? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ???? ??? ????? ?? ????…

— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) January 20, 2024

Four law students on Saturday approached the Bombay High Court with a PIL challenging the Maharashtra government’s decision declaring a public holiday on January 22 to mark the consecration ceremony of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.

The petitioners filed an application to the HC, seeking a special bench’s constitution to hear their plea on Sunday. A special bench led by Justice Girish S Kulkarni is likely to hear the plea on Sunday morning.

Read the full report here

Swami Vigyananand, VHP Joint General Secretary and Founder & Global Chairman, World Hindu Foundation (WHF) says, "We have officially invited around 100 people from 55 countries on 22nd January...They will arrive here by tomorrow (21st January) afternoon. Arrangements for them to stay have already been made..."

#WATCH | Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh | Swami Vigyananand, VHP Joint General Secretary and Founder & Global Chairman, World Hindu Foundation (WHF) says, "We have officially invited around 100 people from 55 countries on 22nd January...They will arrive here by tomorrow (21st January)… pic.twitter.com/3fDCbruGUK

— ANI (@ANI) January 20, 2024

Six decades in bureaucracy and as the top executive authority in the Prime Minister’s Office couldn’t have prepared Nripendra Misra for this one-line brief — build a temple for Ram that will last at least a thousand years. In February 2020, when Misra expressed his keenness to take on the responsibility, he couldn’t have fathomed what the project entailed — the scale, the complexity, and the need for seamless coordination between not just the contractor (L&T), consultant (Tata Consulting Engineers), and client (Ram Janmabhoomi Trust), but also the architect (C B Sompura), master planner (Design Associates), and various local, state and national agencies.

READ MORE

A three-day programme begun at the ancient Raghunath temple here on Saturday to celebrate the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

The event commenced with the sacred 'Sunderkand Path' this morning as the Dharmarth Trust invited people of the region to participate in the grand celebrations spanning from January 20-22.

"On behalf of J-K Dharmarth Trust, we invite the people of Jammu to partake in the grand celebrations," said M K Ajatshatru Singh, former minister and trustee of J-K Dharmarth Trust.

From Nihang Singhs to ISKCON and temple trusts from across the country to locals in Ayodhya, various community kitchens are being run here to serve 'langar' food to devotees as the Ram Temple consecration ceremony nears.

Devotees flocking to the holy city can savour fresh cooked hot meals at these community kitchens which are operational at every nook and corner of the city.

Khichdi, aloo puri, kadhi chawal, achar, and papad are among the common menu at these langars with the supply of hot tea bringing respite to devotees amid the cold.

Amitabh Bachchan, Rajinikanth, Akshay Kumar and Amjad Ali Khan are among the A-listers from the entertainment and music world who have been invited as state guests for the consecration of the grand Ram Temple here on Monday.

The 500+ state guest list features a mix of actors, directors and singers from the showbiz world invited for the event. PTI

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said no decision has been taken on declaring a government holiday on January 22 when the consecration of Ram Temple will be performed in Ayodhya.

Reacting to BJP's demand for a holiday on January 22, Siddaramaiah said he has not yet seen the request letter.

"No, not yet. We will see. I have not yet seen the letter. We will see it," Siddaramaiah told reporters when he was informed that the Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council Kota Srinivas Pujari had written a letter to him in this regard.

The government has issued an advisory to media outlets and social media platforms today cautioning them against publishing any false or manipulated content related to the January 22 Ram Mandir consecration ceremony in Ayodhya.

The advisory, issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, said it was observed that certain unverified, provocative and fake messages were being spread, especially on social media, which can disturb communal harmony and public order.

Ahead of the Ram temple consecration ceremony, the Delhi government on Friday announced it will organise a three-day Ramlila starting Saturday.

The event will be held at the Pyarelal Auditorium near ITO and will feature a live three-hour performance presented by the Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra from 4 pm to 7 pm.

The event is free for everyone, as per the Delhi government

The Delhi CM, in a post on X, announced that he will attend the Ramlila on Sunday.

"I will go for Ramlila tomorrow on Sunday. You should also take out time and go with your family," Kejriwal said.

??? ?? ?????? ??????? ????? ??????? ?? ?? ??? ??????? ??????? ????? ?????? https://t.co/BQKYzD6SBe

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 20, 2024

After it received a notice from the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) for selling sweets as 'Shri Ram Mandir Ayodhya Prasad', Amazon today said it is taking appropriate action against such listings in line with its policies.

Amazon acknowledged that it has received a communication from the CCPA regarding misleading product claims by certain sellers and said it is "investigating them for violations".

"In the interim, we are taking appropriate action against such listings as per our policies," Amazon spokesperson said in a statement.

The CCPA slapped a notice on Amazon on Friday and sought a response within seven days.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad will felicitate families of "Martyrs" and "Karsewaks" in Delhi on Saturday. ‘Karsevaks’ were part of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement in the early 1990s and were volunteers from various Hindu outfits during the movement.

As the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya nears with Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to take part in the consecration of the Ram Lalla idol on January 22, DD National released a sneak peek into the Ram Mandir on Saturday. The clip showcases the architecture of the temple, and captures the preparations ahead of the ceremony.

The city is also decked up for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony, with flyovers decorated with artworks of Lord Ram, donning his bow and arrow, and ornamental lampposts carrying designs themed on the traditional ‘Ramanandi tilak’. In a video released by the government, flower statues of Lord Ram and Hanuman are erected around the Mandir, with paintings of Hindu gods drawn on walls across the temple town. (Read More)

#DDNews Exclusive sneak peek inside the magnificent Ram Temple!
The craftsmanship is awe-inspiring, a testament to India's rich cultural heritage. @PMOIndia @ShriRamTeerth @UPGovt @tourismgoi @MinOfCultureGoI @tapasjournalist#Ayodhya #AyodhyaRamTemple #RamTemple… pic.twitter.com/FyaMm4FGrv

— DD News (@DDNewslive) January 20, 2024

Vishwa Hindu Parishad President Alok Kumar on Saturday handed over the gifts received from Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, and Afghanistan to 'Yajman' of Shri Ram Temple Anil Mishra.

"Muslim brothers and sisters from Kashmir came to meet me and expressed their happiness at the construction of Ram temple, and said that even though we follow different religions, our ancestors are the same. They handed over 2kg of organically produced pure saffron from Kashmir... Silk manufacturers from Tamil Nadu have sent a silk bedsheet depicting the Shri Ram temple... Water of Kubha (Kabul) river from Afghanistan has been sent for the 'Abhishek' of Shri Ram," the VHP President said. 

#WATCH | Ayodhya, UP: Vishwa Hindu Parishad President Alok Kumar hands over gifts received from Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, and Afghanistan to 'Yajman' of Shri Ram Temple Anil Mishra.

He says, "Muslim brothers and sisters from Kashmir came to meet me and expressed their happiness at… pic.twitter.com/g8Vywcde6J

— ANI (@ANI) January 20, 2024

#WATCH | Ayodhya, UP: PAC Barabanki Police Band performs at Lata Mangeshkar Chowk ahead of the grand Pran Pratishtha ceremony on 22nd January. pic.twitter.com/B9TCDYuLXb

— ANI (@ANI) January 20, 2024

As devotees' countdown to the opening of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, the world's largest lock, weighing 400 kg, and 1,265 kg of laddu Prasad reached Ayodhya on Saturday. Both are offerings to the temple.

While the lock is from Aligarh, the ladus are from Hyderabad. 

The laddu prasad was made by Sri Ram Catering Services in Hyderabad. Nagabhushanam Reddy, the owner of the catering services, talked about the laddoo prasad and the story behind it while speaking to ANI as he reached here. 'God has blessed my business and my family. I had pledged to prepare 1 kg of laddoo for each day till I am alive,' Nagabhushanam Reddy told ANI. 'I have brought a food certificate as well. These laddus can last one month. 25 men prepared the laddoos for 3 days,' he added.

The lock was made two years ago by an elderly couple, Satya Prakash Sharma and his wife Rukmini Sharma, who were residents of Norangabad, Aligarh. (ANI)

#WATCH | Uttar Pradesh: Lock and Key weighing around 400 kg, made in 6 months arrives at Ayodhya from Aligarh, ahead of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony on 22nd January. pic.twitter.com/Agl4I1nThK

— ANI (@ANI) January 20, 2024

As the country is preparing for the greatest spectacle after Independence — the consecration ceremony at Ayodhya — some non-issues are being raked up as controversies to mar the occasion. In the Hindu dharmic tradition, temples are not merely the “abodes of god” but an institution in themselves. God in Hindu dharma is omnipresent. Temples house the murtis of the God, but they perform many other socio-religious functions.

Temples performed five important socio-religious and economic functions — the provision of food, education, healthcare, promotion of traditional art forms and propagation of spiritual values. In the Hindu tradition, they were considered as centres of social cohesion, economic support and cultural revival.

That’s why they were always patronised by the kings. South Indian kings like the Cholas, Pandyas and Pallavas to the North Indian royals like the Guptas, Palas, Pratiharas and the various kingdoms of Rajputana (Rajasthan) were known for building great temples in the early and medieval periods of Indian history. Even the first Ram temple at Ayodhya was said to have been built by King Vikramaditya of the Gupta dynasty in 4th century AD. Hence, the controversy over whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi is qualified to consecrate the temple at Ayodhya is meaningless. (Read More)

The Ram temple in Ayodhya will be inaugurated on January 22. Chandrakant Sompura, 81, and his son Ashish, 51, have designed the complex in the Nagara style of temple architecture.

A ‘language’ of architecture

The Nagara style of temple architecture emerged some time in the fifth century CE, during the late Gupta period, in northern India. It is seen in juxtaposition with the Dravida style of southern India, which too emerged in the same period. 

The use of the term ‘style’, however, is debated. “Nagara and Dravida may be called ‘styles’, but they cover vast areas and time spans,” Adam Hardy wrote in his highly influential The Temple Architecture of India (2007). Instead of ‘styles’, he refers to the two as “the two great classical languages of Indian temple architecture”. (Read More)

"Shubh Ghadi Aayi", "Taiyar hai Ayodhya dham, virajenge Shree Ram" and "Ram fir lautenge" are among the slogans on posters and hoardings splashed across the temple town ahead of the consecration ceremony on January 22.

Gearing up for the big day, the city is decked up with saffron flags and huge cut outs of Lord Ram that have been placed on the median of the Ram Path while continuous chants of 'Siya Ram' and 'Jai Siya Ram' can be heard everywhere, being played on loudspeakers installed at temples in the vicinity.

Among the slogans on huge hoardings that have come up across the length and breadth of the city are "Subh Ghadi Aayi" (the auspicious occasion has come), "Taiyar hai Ayodhya dham, virajenge shree ram" (Ayodhya Dham is ready to welcome Lord Ram), "Ram fir lautenge" (Lord Ram will return again), Ayodhya mein Ram Rajya (Ram Rajya in Ayodhya) and "Shree Ayodhya dham ka kan kan mati chandan hai, apka ayodhya dham me shat shat vandan hai".

Various verses from the Ramayana are also printed on posters at prominent places like the Ram Marg, the Saryu River bank and Lata Mangeshkar Chowk. (PTI)

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has issued a notice to Amazon over the sale of sweets with “misleading claims” they are prasad from the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

According to the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, the CCPA — which is headed by Chief Commissioner Rohit Kumar Singh — has initiated action against Amazon Seller Services Pvt Ltd. The notice has been issued regarding the sale of sweets on http://www.amazon.in under the name ‘Shri Ram Mandir Ayodhya Prasad’. (Read More)

As part of the upcoming rituals this Saturday, the Ram idol will undergo various “Dhivas,” including being adorned with sugar and flowers sourced from different regions of the country. Some of these flowers have either arrived or are en route via special flights for a  ritual known as “Pushpadhivas.” Another significant aspect of the ceremony involves bathing the idol and purifying the Garbh Grah (sanctum sanctorum) with medicated water collected from various religious sites across the nation, stored in 81 consecrated “Kalash” (urns).

Priests overseeing the rituals have conveyed that the “Snapan” or cleansing process, utilising the medicated water from 81 Kalash, will be an elaborate affair taking approximately three hours. This specially prepared medicated water comprises extracts from different fruits, “Gau mutra” (cow urine), and other components. Additionally, water from revered religious places and rivers spanning both India and Nepal has been incorporated into the ritual.

The construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh has for decades been the demand of the Hindu Right in India. The demand rests on two important claims, both of which are a point of contention among historians and politicians. First, there is the belief that Ayodhya is the sacred site of birth of Lord Ram, and second is the claim that a temple dedicated to Ram was demolished on the orders of the 16th century Mughal emperor Babur to build a mosque at the same site.

Ayodhya’s sanctity as the birth place of Ram is derived from the faith that Hindus place on the Ramayana. It is worth noting that apart from the present site of the temple, the name Ayodhya exists in other parts of the world as well. There is the Ayutthaya kingdom in Thailand that is known to have been named on the Ayodhya of the Ramayana and there is also a place named Ajudhiapur in present-day Pakistan.

Journalist and researcher Valay Singh, who has authored the book, ‘Ayodhya: City of faith, city of discord’ (2018), spoke to indianexpress.com on several aspects of the name ‘Ayodhya’ and how it traveled not just across India but also beyond its borders. Read the Edited excerpts here..

Six decades in bureaucracy and as the top executive authority in the Prime Minister’s Office couldn’t have prepared Nripendra Misra for this one-line brief — build a temple for Ram that will last at least a thousand years. In February 2020, when Misra expressed his keenness to take on the responsibility, he couldn’t have fathomed what the project entailed — the scale, the complexity, and the need for seamless coordination between not just the contractor (L&T), consultant (Tata Consulting Engineers), and client (Ram Janmabhoomi Trust), but also the architect (C B Sompura), master planner (Design Associates), and various local, state and national agencies.

But for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, civil engineering expertise or knowledge of agama shastra (manual for temple building and rituals) was definitely not the key consideration to pick Misra to helm one of the most important ideological projects of the BJP and the Sangh Parivar. (Read More)

Ahead of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Temple on January 22, one of the world's most expensive Ramayana has reached the Ayodhya and is worth one lakh and sixty-five thousand rupees.

Manoj Sati, a bookseller who reached Ayodhya with the Ramayana to attend the Ram Temple event, told ANI, "We have reached here with our beautiful Ramayana here in the tent city of Ayodhya. It has so many qualities and is the world's most expensive Ramayana." "You can say the most beautiful Ramayana is in Ayodhya. Its worth is Rs 1.65 lakh," he added.

"The design of the outer box, the paper, and everything that makes it...It has a three-floor box, like the Ram Mandir being built with three floors. So it has also been designed similarly. There is a stand on the top floor to read the book," he added. (ANI)

With devotees on their ultimate pilgrimage to Ram temple, the activities under a tin shed on the four-acre Ramsevakpuram premises in Ayodhya are also grabbing their attention.

The eight pieces of stones under the tin shed, which had arrived from various corners of the country and abroad, carry as much significance for the devotees as the Ram Lalla idol — they wish to see and touch these stones. These stones were meant for the Ram Lalla idol, but later, the 51-inch tall idol sculpted by Mysuru-based sculptor Arun Yogiraj was selected.

Before nearly 8,000 VIP guests descend on Ayodhya for the January 22 consecration ceremony, 2,000 workers who have been toiling in two shifts of 12 hours each for months to get the temple ready for the “grand opening” were given a “short break” on Friday evening.

Construction at the temple was temporarily halted on Friday evening and will resume after the ceremony.

Madhya Pradesh declared that all government offices will have a half working day, with all schools and colleges remaining shut on January 22 owing to the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, news agency PTI quoted officials as saying. All offices and institutes of the state government will remain closed till 2.30 pm so that people can participate in the celebrations, a government notification issued onThursday night said.Two separate notifications declaring holiday for schools and colleges were also issued by the School and Higher Education Department.  .

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams trained to tackle all kinds of attacks - chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear - and natural disasters have been deployed in Ayodhya ahead of the Ram temple consecration ceremony, news agency PTI quoted an official as saying. "Multiple NDRF teams, few HAZMAT (hazardous material) vehicles that were procured by the force during the recently concluded G20 summit in Delhi have been stationed in Ayodhya to effectively deal with any kind of disaster or trouble," NDRF Director General Atul Karwal told PTI. The DG said the teams will continue to be stationed in Ayodhya after the January 22 consecration ceremony.

Havells India announced the successful completion of the indoor lighting of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, which is scheduled for inauguration and opening on January 22, 2024.'We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all involved in this historic endeavor and express gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of the rich cultural tapestry of Ayodhya. Havells remains dedicated to pushing the boundaries of innovation and cultural heritage,' Mr. Parag Bhatnagar, President, Havells India, said. 

The centre's decision to declare half-day in government offices on January 22, the day of the Ram temple consecration ceremony, is against the constitution, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) said in a statement as per news agency PTI. A memorandum issued by the Government of India declared that all government offices, central institutions and industrial establishments will remain closed till 2.30 pm on January 22 to "enable employees to participate in the celebrations for Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha at Ayodhya". "Employees have the right to make a personal choice regarding their religious belief and behaviour but it is a gross misuse of power for the government itself to issue such a circular," the CPI(M) stated.

New Delhi Municpal Council (NDMC) Vice Chairman Satish Upadhyay on Friday said that the council was contributing to the preparations ahead of the Ayodhya Ram temple consecration ceremony, adding that the event would be telecast live in screens across the capital. "Along with this, every market in New Delhi including Khan Market, Pandara Market, and Lodhi Road Market, all these market associations are also planning to organise different events,” Upadhyay said. 

VIDEO | “NDMC is also contributing to the preparations ahead of the #RamMandirPranPratishta ceremony. There will be a live telecast on every screen, so that people can witness it from wherever they are present. Along with this, every market in New Delhi including Khan Market,… pic.twitter.com/Et1b2BJ5Dv

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 19, 2024

The five Supreme Court judges, including Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, who were part of the Constitution bench which delivered the verdict allowing the construction of the Ram Temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya, have been invited as state guests to the consecration ceremony on January 22, news agency PTI reported. Former CJIs Ranjan Gogoi and S A Bobde and former judges Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer were part of the bench which had delivered the verdict on November 9, 2019. The verdict had backed the construction of a Ram temple by a government trust in Ayodhya and ruled that an alternative five-acre plot must be found for a mosque in the town. 

BJP National General Secretary Bandi Sanjay Kumar flagged off a 1200-km youth cycle yatra from Karimnagar in Telangana to Ayodhya earlier today, news agency PTI reported.

VIDEO | #RamMandirPranPratishta : BJP MP @bandisanjay_bjp flagged off a 1,200-km youth cycle yatra from Karimnagar, Telangana to #Ayodhya earlier today. pic.twitter.com/IHduQFIGzF

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 19, 2024

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who reached Ayodhya today to review the last minute preparations for the Ram temple consecration on January 22, said the traffic and security preparations for the event had been completed. "The Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla will be done by Prime Minister Modi on January 22," the UP Chief Minister added. 

VIDEO | "The Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla will be done by PM Modi on January 22. I have come here to review the preparations. The administration and state ministers have already completed all the preparations related to facilities, traffic and security," says UP CM… pic.twitter.com/oNa98r3dXd

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 19, 2024

Launching a scathing attack on the Congress, senior BJP leader Uma Bharti on Friday said that those who denied the existence of Lord Ram do not have the courage to go to Ayodhya and they do not deserve to go there. "They do not deserve to go there," Bharti told PTI when asked about the Congress declining the invitation to attend the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22. "They rejected Ram. They denied his existence in an affidavit in the Supreme Court saying Ram does not exist. The affidavit was such that they did not have the courage to go there (Ayodhya)," she added. (PTI)

Bengal BJP Chief Sukanto Majumder on Friday requested Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to declare a state holiday on January 22 to mark the consecration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

In a letter written in Bengali, the BJP leader said, “January 22 is a day of pride for the country. The birthplace of Lord Ram was destroyed… by foreign invaders. After a long struggle by seers and sadhus of India… birthplace has been recovered. Two of Bengal’s sons, Ram Kothari and Sharad Kothari (killed during Kar Seva in Ayodhya), lost their lives during the struggle. Read here

The Tripura government declared a half-day holiday in the state on January 22 in view of the consecration ceremony of Ram temple in Ayodhya, officials said on Friday. The state government issued a notification late on Thursday night regarding the closure of offices till 2.30 pm on January 22, they said. "On the line of notification of the Centre, the state government has decided to declare holiday in all government offices and institutions to witness the pran pratistha of Ram Lalla at Ayodhya on January 22 till 2.30 pm," Secretariat Administration Department's Deputy Secretary Ashim Saha said in the notification. Central government establishments, public sector banks, insurance companies, financial institutions and regional rural banks (RRBs) across the country will also remain closed for half a day on January 22. (PTI)

UP CM reached Ayodhya on Friday, where he offered prayers at Hanuman Gari and then paid respects to the existing idol of Ram Lalla. He then visited Ram Temple to review the preparations for the ceremony.

West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar on Friday wrote to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, urging her to declare holiday on January 22 so that people can participate in the celebrations marking the Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya.

Central government establishments, public sector banks, insurance companies, financial institutions and regional rural banks (RRBs) across the country will remain closed for half a day on January 22. Several states, including neighbouring Assam and Odisha, have also declared half-day holiday to mark the consecration ceremony.

"I have requested our Hon'ble CM @MamataOfficial (Mamata Banerjee) to kindly consider declaring 22nd January 2024 to be a school holiday, so that the youth of West Bengal gets to rejoice in the Ram Mandir consecration celebrations," Majumdar posted on X, sharing a copy of the letter he wrote to the chief minister.

In his letter, he said the chief minister has declared holidays on several special occasions in the past.

I have requested our Hon'ble CM @MamataOfficial to kindly consider declaring 22nd January, 2024 to be a school holiday, so that the youth of West Bengal gets to rejoice in the Ram Mandir consecration celebrations...#RamMandirPranPratishta #RamMandir pic.twitter.com/h4U4TagCKZ

— Dr. Sukanta Majumdar (@DrSukantaBJP) January 19, 2024