© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Madhya Pradesh was one of the four states where the BJP was in power and where the government was dismissed in the aftermath of the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992. Now, the state where the BJP returned to power in December after receiving an overwhelming mandate is gearing up for the inauguration of the Ram Temple on January 22.
From five lakh laddoos made in Ujjain’s Mahakaleshwar Temple to religious programmes in temples across the state, the state government has stepped up preparations for the consecration ceremony of the Ram Lalla idol. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said Madhya Pradesh would not be left behind in the celebrations. “Two thousand years ago, King Vikramaditya helped build the Ram Mandir. That temple was demolished 500 years ago by Babur, so how can Madhya Pradesh stay behind when the temple is being consecrated?” he said.
The Mahakaleshwar Temple administration said they had started working on producing 250 quintals of laddoos following the CM’s instructions. Officials said it would “take about five days to prepare the consignment and around three to five trucks will have to be arranged to deliver the prasad to Ayodhya”. The temple administration said 100 people would be employed to pack the boxes of laddoos.
The CM said people from the state would be sent to Ayodhya for darshan on specific dates provided by the Centre. The government has had its focus on the Ram Mandir ceremony since it was sworn in. In his first Cabinet meeting, the CM announced that the state would welcome Ram devotees on their way to Ayodhya for the ceremony. At multiple events, he has spoken about the “sacrifices kar sevaks from the state” made during the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and tied its history to the Yadav home base in Ujjain by invoking Vikramaditya who is a major figure in the local folklore.
Authorities at the local level have been taking steps to celebrate the ceremony as illustrated by Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargav who sparked a row earlier this week over his direction to all malls and shops in the city to install replicas of the Ram Temple. The mayor also warned that the people of Indore “know how to respond to those who will fail to cooperate”.
Additional Chief Secretary (Ministry of Religious Trust and Endowment) issued a circular on Friday directing that from January 16 to 22, 2024, Ram kirtans and other religious programmes will be held in temples across the state. “Lamps should be lit in all the temples in the state. Common people should be awakened for the festival of lights in every house,” the circular stated.
The government has instructed Ram mandals (volunteers) to organise local events in their neighbourhoods and villages, and said that the “main temples in the state will livestream the ceremony from Ayodhya”. The notice read, “Live telecast of the said programme in Ayodhya should be done by installing TV screens in the main temples of the state. The general public should be specially invited to participate in the events in the said temples and necessary arrangements should be ensured.”
The government will also organise bhandaras (community feasts) and host a series of cultural programmes based on the stories of Ram and Sita at major temples. Furthermore, the state officials have also been directed to make arrangements “for the honour and welcome of pilgrims travelling to Ayodhya by special trains and road routes, with the cooperation of local bodies and local people”.
The government will also conduct special cleanliness drives in all cities and villages from January 14 to 21, including in its offices. The BJP-led administration said all government buildings, schools, and colleges would be decorated.
“The Culture Department will organise Sri Ramcharit Leela programmes in the districts of Ratlam, Mandsaur, Ujjain, Indore, Khandwa, Agar-Malwa, Dewas, Sehore, Chhindwara, Jabalpur, Anuppur, Tikamgarh, Chhatarpur, Panna, Satna, Gwalior, Datia, Niwari, Rewa, and Damoh from January 11 to 21,” read a government circular.
