Prime Minister will place the base stone and stamp the commemorative stamps of the decorated holy city for ‘bhoomi bid’
Shahira Naim and Vibha Sharma
Ayodhya / New Delhi, August 4
After decades of legal war over the structure of a Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya, the rite “bhoomi bid” for the temple will end in one minute, from 12:44 p.m. at 12:45 p.m., the maximum auspicious window on Wednesday.
During this period, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will offer the lotus flower to five “navratanos” metals (nine engraved precious stones) and the president priests will proclaim “Pratishthauyami” (installed), ending the ceremony.
The “bid” will begin 14 minutes early, when the Prime Minister sits at the Aasan and listens to Ganesh Vandana and other sholakas. Before “bhoomi bid,” Prime Minister Modi will offer prayers at Hanumangarhi Temple. He later discovered a plaque marking the laying of the first stone and issued a commemorative postage stamp.
Ayodhya ready for the big occasion with security measures on the brain in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. The holy city shines with the colors of the rainbow: from multicolored arches that welcome visitors to pink lighting fixtures that illuminate Saryu’s mandirs and ghats, with the adornment of saffron flowers and yellow marigold on the bidding site and Ram ki Paeri adding glitter.
Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra invited 175 eminent visitors to the “bhoomi pujan” ceremony, which includes 135 saints from 135 non-secular traditions.
Incidentally, Iqbal Ansari, the son of original litigant of the title suit, Hashim Ansari, was the first to get the invite. “I believe it was Lord Ram’s wish that I receive the first invitation. I accept it. May Hindus and Muslims live in harmony in Ayodhya,” he said. Another eminent citizen of Ayodhya, Padma Shri awardee Mohammad Sharif or ‘Sharif chacha’, has been invited. He is known for disposing of unclaimed bodies with dignity. The laying of foundation stone for the ‘grand Ram Temple’, a promise by the ruling BJP in its manifestoes over the years, will bring to end the decades-long movement that catapulted the saffron party to the political centre-stage. The RSS and its affiliates have planned ‘Diwali-like celebrations’ to mark the day.
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Incidentally, some of the existing BJP leaders may claim a direct link to the “Ram Janmabhoomi andolan”. PM Modi was a component of the “Rath Yatra” led by veteran LK Advani in 1990 to the “andolan” of VHP, a subsidiary of Sangh. Approximately 30 years later, Prime Minister Modi will hold the temple opening ceremony, an occasion to be seen live through millions of Indians, adding To Advani, who is credited with helping the BJP resume riots.
The Prime Minister will spend hours
1-minute Auspicious window
The big “bid” will take up position between 12:44 and 12:45 p.m. for 32 seconds “Abhijit Muhurat” — a time when Lord Ram is the idea of having been born
PM will perform ‘shila pujan’, ‘bhoomi pujan’ and ‘karma shila pujan’ and lay a 40-kg silver brick to symbolise the start of temple construction
135 guest list seers
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