CM Yogi in Ayodhya Today to Review Preps, Akhilesh Says 'Will Visit Later with Family' | Updates

Preparatory chaos is on in Ayodhya ahead of the beginning of the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple on January 22. The ‘pran pratishtha‘ will begin from January 16, before concluding on the big day.

Meanwhile, UP Police has installed over 10,000 CCTV cameras and will deploy drones to ensure security on the day of the consecration ceremony.

Gaurav Vanswal, SP Security, said that anti-drone system has also been installed to keep a lookout for any unauthorised drone in the region.

SP Chief Thanks Shree Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Gen Sec For Ram Mandir Invitation

Samajwadi Party Cheif Akhilesh Yadav thanked Champat Rai, the general secretary of Shree Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra for the invitation to the Pran Pratishtha ceremony. He further said that he will visit Ayodhya later with his family, after the consecration ceremony.

UP CM Adityanath to Visit Ayodhya Tomorrow, Will Review D-Day Preparations

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will visit Ayodhya on Sunday after inaugurating the famous Makar Sankranti fair of Gorakhpur. CM Yogi’s helicopter will land at Ram Katha Park helipad at around 11:00 am, where he will worship Hanumangarhi and Ram Lalla and will launch a massive cleanliness campaign near Lata Mangeshkar Chowk, which will run from January 14 to January 21. He will also flag off e-vehicles near the bus stand, launch a digital tourist app and review the preparations for the consecration ceremony of Lord Ram Lala.

Giriraj Singh Calls Cong Anti-Hindu, Slams Party for Declining Ram Temple Invite

Union Minister Giriraj Singh slammed the Congress on Saturday, after its leaders declined an invitation to take part in the idol consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22. He further said that anti-Hinduism is in the party’s DNA.

The temple trust had invited Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge but they are not going for the ceremony, he said.

Liquor Shops, Bars to Remain Closed in Uttarakhand on ‘Pran Pratistha’ Day

On the occasion of the consecration ceremony at Ayodhya’s Ram temple, liquor shops and bars will remain closed in Uttarakhand on January 22. An order to this effect was issued by Excise Commissioner Hari Chandra Semwal on Friday.

‘City of Locks’ Set to Gift 50Kg lock for Ayodhya Ram Mandir

Harrison locks, renowned lock-making company of Aligarh — the ‘city of locks — will gift a unique 50kg lock for the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, a Times of India report said.

The managing director of Harrison Locks, Umang Monga said that since his city is famous for making all types of locks, “we felt that this will be a good opportunity to put Aligarh on the global map". He said that the lock will be sent to Ayodhya via local MP Satish Gautam.

This lock, made with the efforts of around half-a-dozen workers, took nearly six months to be completed.

The lock company’s manager Abhishek Saxena also pointed that the lock is mainly “made of zinc and iron" and it has “key weighing around 2 kg".

Attempt to Conduct Consecration Ceremony ‘Will Prove Costly’: Cong Leader

Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar said that PM Modi’s attempt to personally conduct the consecration ceremony of the Ayodhya Ram temple will prove costly given the disapproval of the four shankaracharyas who have refused to attend the ceremony.

“Modi’s attempt at being personally present and personally conducting the religious ceremony has received such strong disapproval from the four accepted seers of the Hindu religion, who constitute what you may call the pontiffs of the Hindu religion, that it is all going to turn back on him. It will bite back," Aiyar said.

PM Modi on Special “Har Ghar Mandir Har Ghar Utsav" Song

Taking to the microblogging site X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the special song “Har Ghar Mandir Har Ghar Utsav“, sung by Divya Kumar and composed by Siddharth Amit Bhavsar will enable people to experience the “atmosphere of faith and devotion".

“After centuries of waiting, the moment of auspicious time is near in Ayodhya Dham. On this auspicious occasion, the praise of Lord Ram is echoing everywhere from North to South and from East to West. You will experience this atmosphere of faith and devotion through this presentation. #ShriRamBhajan" he wrote.

Mauritius Govt Grants 2-Hour Break to Hindu Officials on Jan 22

The Mauritius government has granted a two hour break to public officials of Hindu faith on the day of consecration ceremony in Ayodhya. The break allows the Hindu officials to take part in local ceremonies and poojas on the day.

“The Cabinet has agreed to the grant of a one-off special leave of two hours on Monday 22 January 2024 as from 14:00 hours to public officers of Hindu faith, subject to exigencies of service, in the context of the inauguration of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir in India, which is a landmark event as it symbolises the return of Lord Ram in Ayodhya," official statement from the Mauritian Cabinet, led by PM Pravind Kumar Jugnauth read.

VHP Puts Up Ram Mandir Billboards in US

The Vishva Hindu Parishad’s (VHP) US-unit, in coordination with Hindus from across the United States, put up more than 40 giant Ram Mandir billboards in more than 10 states.

The billboards display the message of the pran pratishtha of Lord Ram in Ayodhya on January 22.

The billboards are on display in Texas, Illinois, New York, New Jersey and Georgia, among other states, an ANI report said.

The VHP, American chapter, said that Arizona and Missouri will be joining the visual celebrations from January 15.

“The resounding message conveyed by these billboards is that Hindu Americans are elated and joyously participating in this once-in-a-lifetime event. Their emotions overflow as they eagerly await the auspicious day of the consecration ceremony," said Amitabh VW Mittal, general secretary, Hindu Parishad of America.

Invite Couriered to Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati, Says VHP

The Vishva Hindu Parishad on Saturday maintained that both Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati have been invited to the January 22 pran pratishtha ceremony.

The VHP said that the invites have been couriered to both the leaders.

Two days back, a war of words broke out between VHP chief Alok Kumar and the SP chief over the invite.

While Kumar said that the VHP functionary had approached the SP chief with the invite for the ceremony, Akhilesh reportedly said that he would not accept such an invitation from a “stranger".

According to the VHP chief, it has been decided to invite all presidents of important political parties for the grand ceremony.

“We had seen his earlier statement that he would come if invited. An invitation has been sent to him. But now he is saying that he would go if Lord Ram calls him. If he does not come then it will become clear that even Ram does not want him to come," the VHP chief had said.

Jyotish Peeth Shankaracharya Not Invited Due to Dispute

Jyotish Peeth Shankaracharya, Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, who has been the most vocal about the pran pratishtha ceremony has not been invited yet.

This is because of the selection issue over Jyotish Peeth Shankaracharya, which is sub-judice. There is a pre-existing dispute over who should be the Shankaracharya. In fact, the Supreme Court in 2022 had stopped his coronation.

However the three other Shankaracharyas, who have been invited to the ceremony, could make a visit on a later convenient date.

40-Day Worship Programme to Mark Jan 22 Event, Says Kanchipuram Shankaracharya

Vijyendra Saraswat Swamigal, the Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Mutt in Tamil Nadu’s Kanchipuram, said that the Yagyashala in Kashi will hold a 40-day worship programme to mark the January 22 event.

PM Modi Begins 11-Day Ritual Before Pran Pratishtha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his 11-day anushthan on Friday ahead of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony on January 22.

He began the anushthan by praying at Shree Kala Ram Mandir, situated along the banks of Godavari in the Panchavati area of Nashik.

As to what all can part of an anushthan, saints and seers told News18 that — sleeping on the floor if possible, waking up early to pray to God, doing jaap and meditation, exercise calm, staying silent for some part of a day, eating little and only satvic food, reading religious scriptures, maintaining cleanliness and doing one’s own work — can all be a part of it.

2 Trucks with 20 Tonnes of Veggies Sent to Ayodhya

Two truck carrying 20 tonnes of vegetables were sent from Chhattisgarh to Ayodhya on Friday for the pran pratishtha on January 22. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai flagged off the two vehicles, an official said.

Last month, 300 tonnes of rice was also sent to Ayodhya.

Naga Seers Leave for Ayodhya With Sacred Water From Uttarakhand’s Holy Rivers

A group of Naga Seers from Juna Akhara — carrying water from the holy rivers of Uttarakhand — left for Ayodhya on Friday.

The sacred kalash (pot) is filled with holy river water from Ganga (Gangotri), Yamuna (Yamunotri), Mandakini, Saryu, Bhagirathi, Ram Ganga, Kali Ganga, Dhauli Ganga and Trijugi Narayan.

Ram Janmabhoomi Soil to be Gifted to Invitees

The soil of Ram Janmabhoomi that was taken out during the digging of the foundation was kept aside to be given as presents to the invitees attending the consecration ceremony.

The soil will be packed in boxes and presented to the guests, a member of the Ram Janmabhoomi Theerth Kshetra Trust said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be gifted a 15-metre picture of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. The picture will be backed in a jute bag which also carries a photograph of the temple, the member added.

The “memorable gifts" will be given to over 11,000 guests and invitees to the ceremony. Apart from the soil, 100 grams of Motichoor ladoos made with desi ghee as prasad will also be presented to them, he noted.

Gifts to invitees will have two boxes:

One with motichoor laddoos prasad and a sacred tulsi leaf. Another with the Ram Janmabhoomi soil and water from Saryu river packed in a bottle, along with religious books provided by the Gita Press of Gorakhpur.

(With PTI, ANI inputs)