#Ayodhya Ram Mandir Construction

[jeevanjali]

Ayodhya Ram Mandir: अयोध्या जाएं तो जरूर करें इन जगहों के दर्शनAyodhya Ram Mandir: अयोध्या भगवान राम की जन्मभूमि होने के कारण हिंदुओं के लिए एक महत्वपूर्ण तीर्थस्थल है। यह शहर अपनी धार्मिक और ऐतिहासिक महत्व के लिए जाना जाता है। यहाँ कई मंदिर, स्मारक और अन्य दर्शनीय स्थल हैं

[dreamzandexperiences]

Ayodhya : 1 Of The Most Beautiful Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

The spiritual resonance of Ayodhya and the architectural marvel of the Ram Mandir, promise an experience that transcends time, inviting everyone to be a part of this extraordinary pilgrimage.

The Beautiful Ram Mandir in Ayodhya Bloganuary writing promptName an attraction or town close to home that you still haven’t got around to visiting.View all responses Ayodhya: The Most Beautiful Ram Mandir in Ayodhya Awaits – A Journey Yet to Unfold Ram Mandir , Ayodhya In the heart of India, nestled along the banks of the sacred Sarayu River, lies the historic city of Ayodhya, a place…

[bollywoodboxoffice]

Ayodhya Ram Mandir Budget, Collection, Inauguration Time, Live Telecast Time, Land Area, and More

India’s most awaited day is today because today is the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla Idol in the Ram Temple. PM Narendra Modi is the center of today’s Ram Temple’s opening ceremony which is attended by many politicians, public figures, sportspersons, celebrities, industrialists, and many more. The Pran Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla idol is being held today. PM will participate in the…

[techxoner]

क्रिकेट के शहंशाह से लेकर संतों के सिंहासन तक: कौन गढ़ेगा राम मंदिर के उजाले में इतिहास? सुगबुनाहट तेज हुई. अयोध्या, उत्तर प्रदेश – पवित्र नगरी अयोध्या इस समय एक खास रोमांच से थर्रा रही है, इतिहास के एक गौरवशाली पल की साक्षी बनने को तैयार है: 22 जनवरी, 2024 को भव्य राम मंदिर का लोकार्पण। इस पावन अवसर की भव्यता सिर्फ अनुष्ठानों में ही नहीं, बल्कि सात हजार से ज्यादा अतिथियों को भेजे गए सुंदर निमंत्रण कार्डों में भी झलकती है।

[easterneyenews]

US-based Indian activist applauds initiative allowing diaspora contributions to Ram Mandir

Social activist Prem Bhandari had earlier appealed to prime minister Narendra Modi to allow members of the Indian diaspora across the world to contribute to the development of the Ram Temple in Uttar PradeshAsserting that there are over 3.5 crore Non-Resident Indians and Persons of Indian Origin around the world, he said that many of them would like to contribute to the development of the temple.

Read more- https://www.easterneye.biz/us-indian-activist-applauds-diaspora-contributions-to-ram-mandir/

[incorrectmahabharatquotes]

Genuinely curious, because you seem to hate the Ram Mandir... or how you think one party/ruling government is using it for political gain/votes or how it's wasting money etc.

What do you have to say about the Waqf board act? Or the infamous Shah Bano case and the way the Rajiv Gandhi government went against the decision of the Supreme Court to favour Muslim patriarchy. Or the fact that the Congress government banned books like the Satanic Verses to please a certain community. Is this not politics of appeasement?

You say that the ruling party is playing politics over religion, but hasn't every party done it? It's not like BJP was even hiding it, they've been campaigning for the Ram Mandir rebuilding for decades. It doesn't make it automatically a bad move.

Besides, Ram Mandir is built through devotee donations, so why so much vitriol against it? If Hindus are giving money to construct a temple, it's solely their own decision. I genuinely don't understand why there's so much hatred for it. If a community is reclaiming their holy land, which had been forcibly ruined and rebuilt into another type of building, it's not a bad thing. Plus, a big chunk of land was given to the Sunny Waqf board to build a beautiful mosque in Ayodhya itself, which has begun construction this year (iirc). Both communities will have their interests restored.

Why can't we move on and celebrate the Ram Mandir rebuilding and inauguration? Is decolonization and reclaiming of a place of cultural significance not important?

(I know that some people are being too aggressive about it, but the majority isn't. They're simply celebrating and praying. And some of them actually got attacked for it.)

Okay. Since you're genuinely curious, I'll answer this.

"Why am I criticising the current ruling party for playing politics of appeasement and not any of the other parties?" I'm criticizing them BECAUSE they're the ruling party. They have been in power for close to 10 years now. That's more than 1/3rd of my whole life. This is a hilarious question because I would've been criticizing the same action if it would've been taken by any other political party. I don't have a problem with the party, I have a problem with what they're doing. All citizens are SUPPOSED to do this, my friend. Criticizing your government on what they're doing wrong is a fundamental part of a democracy.

"Politics of appeasement." I hope you understand the difference between appeasement and religious nationalism. The ruling party isn't appeasing anyone. Their acts are guided by their political ideology of Hindutva. I fundamentally disagree with their ideology. I do not agree with them when they say being Hindu is integral to being an Indian. I do not believe in maintaining a Hindu hegemony in India. I simply refuse to accept an ideology that was LITERALLY INSPIRED BY FASCISM AND THE IDEAS OF RACIAL SUPERIORITY.

"What do you have to say about so-and-so?" You know, I would've criticised things I believe are harming our country and power when the governments you speak of were in power. Unfortunately, in certain cases I was not alive then to criticize them and in a few cases, I was a child and I did not know how to form complex sentences. I do not believe in essentialism, you understand? I do not believe that any religion or political party is essentially good or bad. I believe in judging them for what they do.

"They've been campaigning for the Ram Mandir for decades. It doesn't make it automatically a bad move." It's imperative for you to understand this, it is politically a good move and in all other ways a HORRIBLE move. They get the support of all the Hindus who make up the majority of the population? Decent political move. Who could begrudge them for using DIVIDE AND CONQUER as a strategy? But in doing so, what kind of monster have they created? Have they created a billion people who think religious-nationalism is an okay direction for the country's future? Is that a good move, I ask you.

"Ram mandir is built through devotee donations so it's okay." That's close to ₹1,800 crores. (Estimated amount because of course, there's no transparency in the donation system so that we know who donated what amount.) Do you seriously believe all that money came out of the pockets of average working class Indians? Or did the ultra wealthy businessmen fund this religious project and get massive tax breaks in the process? But yes, I'm sure there's no fuckery going on with the money because it's out of DEVOTION. That makes it okay, I guess.

Now we come to the part that is the worst part of this anon message, according to me.

"Reclamation and decolonization." You use these words so lightly and I find that offensive. These words are HIGHLY tied to power structures. Who has the power right now? Is it the mythic evil Islamic conquerors of 400 years ago? Or is it a political party that believes in hindu nationalism and is funded by the ultra wealthy billionaires because said party helps them get even richer? Who is reclaiming what here? I want you to ask yourself this. Can a powerful majority claim reclamation when they tear down a building to build another building there?

"They tore down the temple and built a mosque there" And now you've torn down the mosque and built a temple there. Congratulations, you've won the game. Where do we go from here? Will everyone be happy now? Has peace been restored? A great evil destroyed? What story are we telling ourselves here? Will the religious fanaticism go away now? Will the hatred that has been cultivated in the hearts of Hindus against Muslims be sated? Or will it find more avenues to spread itself?

Decolonizing the mind, right? I wonder why we're only focused on decolonizing against the islamic past and not anything else. But it's okay that India is currently colonising Kashmir. We don't believe in decolonisation when it comes to Kashmir. We don't believe in decolonizing from the system of capitalism that is choking the lives out of us. HELL, WE DON'T EVEN BELIEVE IN RECLAMATION SEEING HOW WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH GIVING THE BARE MINIMUM RESERVATION TO CERTAIN COMMUNITIES AS A REPARATION FOR THE HARM THEY'VE HISTORICALLY AND CURRENTLY SUFFERED AND ARE STILL SUFFERING.

I don't want people to talk to me about reclamation, reparation and decolonisation before they accept their own hypocrisy.

Anon, you say have so much vitriol and hate towards a mandir. I should let people celebrate. Did I stop you personally from celebrating? Did I beat up somebody for trying to shove their religious agenda on me? All I did was talk about how sad I am that this is what we've decided to do with our country's resources. Why is one voice of dissent such a big deal to you? Do you want me to shut up and fall in line? Will that be acceptable?

- Mod S

[mohabbaat]

i have said it irl and I'll say it here; the construction of the ram mandir was thier duty. ppl voted for bjp to get it built. once it was done, ppl had nothing else to look forward to in their manifesto, and no other developments were made in up, so ppl didn't vote for them again. compare it to working a 9-5. if you complete a difficult task, you're gonna get praise, maybe your name will be in for a promotion, but if you keep being consistent with your work, ppl will applaud you. If you just do the difficult task and nothing else, ppl will praise you, but you won't get a promotion

the ram mandir argument doesn't make much sense anyway. for one, ram mandir is in ayodhya but ayodhya itself is not a lok sabha constituency. the constituency is faizabad which is much bigger than ayodhya and have multiple other cities too. by all accounts, while work has been done to "better" ayodhya (which itself is debatable), the other cities have been ignored with no development for the past decade. so, the "hindus betrayed bjp" and "hindus betrayed hinduism and ram" argument would make a little bit more sense during the up elections when ayodhya is its own assembly constituency. and even then, it would be very weak cause who the fuck are you to decide how people follow their own religion? why do you think you know better than the people living there? you see the temple as the restoration of your faith, but the people who live there have lost their homes and their livelihoods so that the temple can be constructed. i highly doubt they love the temple or see it as god's kingdom when it came with that steep a price. also, in the words of certain people, the temple is about faith and religion. so why should people make a political decision based on its construction? religion and politics shouldn't go hand in hand. although most right wing people often forget this simple fact.

[rammandirayodhya]

“Ram Mandir Ayodhya”

Let's talk about the beauty of India – “Ram Mandir Ayodhya”.

The story of Ram Mandir dates back to ancient times when Ayodhya was the capital of the mighty kingdom of Kosala. The revered epic, Ramayana, chronicles Rama's life, his exile, and the triumph of good over evil in the form of the demon king Ravana. Ram Mandir - the living testament to the confluence of history, devotion, and the collective heartbeat of a nation. This sacred sanctuary, arising from the dust of centuries, is not just a place of worship but a symphony of stories etched into the very soul of India. The journey towards the construction of this magnificent temple is woven into the very fabric of India's rich cultural tapestry, blending history, religion, and the collective consciousness of millions.

"The Melody of Ages: Echoes of Timeless Tales within the Sacred Halls of the Ram Mandir Ayodhya"

Travel back in time to the days of the illustrious Kosala kingdom, with Ayodhya as its pulsating heart. Here, the epic of Lord Rama unfolded, a saga written across the skies and etched into the very earth upon which the Ram Mandir now stands. The Ramayana, that timeless scripture, narrates the divine odyssey of Rama, his trials, and the eventual triumph of virtue over vice. Ayodhya's spiritual gravity, rooted in the belief that the temple site is the sacred birthplace of Lord Rama, has beckoned pilgrims and seekers for centuries. This hallowed ground, now adorned by the resplendent Ram Mandir, echoes with the footsteps of those who sought solace in the embrace of devotion. The significance of Ayodhya in the Ramayana laid the foundation for the belief that the very spot where the temple stands today is the birthplace of Lord Rama. Over the centuries, Ayodhya became a symbol of devotion for millions of Hindus worldwide, fostering a deep spiritual connection to the Ram Janmabhoomi.

"Endurance Through Time: Tracing the Centuries-Long Struggle Leading to the Ram Mandir Ayodhya"

The narrative of the Ram Janmabhoomi also carries the weight of centuries of struggle and disputes. The Babri Masjid, built in the 16th century, stood on the same site, leading to a complex and emotionally charged legal and social battle. Decades of legal wrangling reached a pivotal moment in 2019 when the Supreme Court rendered a verdict in favor of constructing the Ram Mandir, a decision that recognized the sentiments of millions and sought to heal historical wounds.

"Sculpting Divinity: Exploring the Architectural Marvels and Spiritual Essence of the Ram Mandir"

The Ram Mandir isn't just a temple; it's a masterpiece of architectural poetry. The design of the Ram Mandir is a harmonious blend of architectural brilliance and spiritual symbolism. Its three-storied splendor is a canvas painted with intricate carvings, soaring domes, and spires that seem to touch the heavens. The sanctum sanctorum cradles the divine family – Lord Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman – in an ethereal embrace. Wander through the temple complex, and you'll be mesmerized by sculptures breathing life into the Ramayana. Each intricately carved scene tells a story, inviting devotees and visitors to immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of Rama's journey. The temple complex also features captivating sculptures depicting scenes from the Ramayana, inviting devotees to relive the epic saga of Rama. The sacredness of the site is enhanced by the serene surroundings, creating a tranquil atmosphere conducive to prayer and contemplation.

"A Symbol of Unity: The Ram Mandir Ayodhya, Bridging Hearts and Faiths in a Tapestry of Harmony"

The construction of the Ram Mandir has been a unifying force for the nation, transcending religious and cultural boundaries. The Ram Mandir, rising from the heart of Ayodhya, is more than an architectural marvel – it is a beacon of unity. Its construction serves as a reminder that within the varied threads of India's cultural fabric, there exists a harmonious tapestry. It exemplifies the spirit of inclusivity, fostering a sense of belonging for people of all faiths. The dedication of the temple to the ideals of Lord Rama, such as righteousness, justice, and compassion, sends a powerful message of unity in diversity. The temple transcends religious boundaries, inviting people from all walks of life to partake in the divine aura that permeates the air. The Ram Mandir Ayodhya stands as a testament to the enduring power of faith, the resilience of a nation, and the ability to overcome centuries of challenges. As pilgrims and wanderers alike embark on a pilgrimage to Ayodhya, they are greeted not just by stone and mortar but by the living essence of the Ram Mandir. It is not merely a structure of stone and mortar; it is a living embodiment of the values that have shaped the cultural landscape of India for millennia. It is a sanctuary where the past dances with the present, where devotion intertwines with heritage, and where the melody of unity resonates through the ages. In the shadows of this sacred abode, Ayodhya continues to weave its tales, inviting all to be a part of its eternal narrative. As pilgrims and tourists alike flock to Ayodhya to witness this architectural marvel, they partake in a journey through history, mythology, and the unwavering spirit of devotion that defines the essence of the Ram Mandir.

Now let's talk about the spritual date for all Hindus! and Ram Bhakts 22nd January 2024

"The Unveiling of Ram Mandir Ayodhya on January 22nd, 2024"

First let me tell you something is that we are the luckiest generation that we are witnessing many years struggle of our ancestors coming to end. 22nd January 2024 is a memorable day for everyone. On the auspicious day of January 22, 2024, the spiritual landscape of Ayodhya witnessed a historic moment that reverberated through the hearts of millions – the grand opening of the Ram Mandir. After decades of legal and societal debates, the culmination of the construction process marked a significant milestone in the religious and cultural history of India. Devotees, dignitaries, and people from all walks of life gathered in Ayodhya to witness the inauguration ceremony. The air was thick with anticipation and reverence as the doors of the Ram Mandir swung open, revealing a breathtaking architectural marvel. The three-storied structure, adorned with intricate carvings and symbolic representations from the Ramayana, stood as a testament to both faith and craftsmanship.

The sanctum sanctorum, the heart of the temple, housed the divine idols of Lord Rama, Goddess Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman. Pilgrims and visitors alike marveled at the spiritual aura enveloping the sacred space, where centuries of devotion found a tangible expression.

The opening of the Ram Mandir was not merely a religious event; it was a moment of unity and harmony. People from diverse backgrounds came together to celebrate the cultural heritage woven into the very fabric of Ayodhya. The resonance of hymns and prayers echoed through the city, carrying with them the hopes and aspirations of a nation united in reverence for Lord Rama.

[beardedmrbean]

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated a grand temple to Hindu god Ram in the flashpoint city of Ayodhya.

He said it heralded "a new era" for India - the temple replaces a 16th-Century mosque torn down by Hindu mobs in 1992, sparking riots in which nearly 2,000 people died.

Top film stars and cricketers were among guests at the event in Ayodhya.

But some Hindu seers and most of the opposition boycotted it, saying Mr Modi was using it for political gain.

General elections are due in India in the next few months and Mr Modi's political rivals say the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will be seeking votes in the temple's name in a country where 80% of the population is Hindu.

Critics have also accused the government of exploiting a religious celebration in a country which - according to its constitution - is secular. For Muslims, India's biggest minority, the event evoked fear and painful memories, members of the community in Ayodhya told the BBC in the run-up to Monday's ceremony.

Televised live, it showed Mr Modi performing religious rituals inside the temple's sanctum along with priests and Mohan Bhagwat, head of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) - the ideological fountainhead of Hindu nationalist parties.

The complex history of India's Ayodhya holy site

Transforming a flashpoint holy city into the ‘Hindu Vatican’

"Today's date will go down in history," Mr Modi said after the event. "After years of struggle and countless sacrifices, Lord Ram has arrived [home]. I want to congratulate every citizen of the country on this historic occasion."

The temple has been constructed at a cost of $217m (£170m), funded from private donations. Only the ground floor was opened - the rest is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The construction work is part of a revamp for the city, estimated to cost more than $3bn.

The building of the Ram temple in Ayodhya fulfils a decades-long Hindu nationalist pledge. Many Hindus believe the Babri mosque was built by Muslim invaders on the ruins of a temple where the Hindu god was born.

The movement to build the temple helped propel the BJP into political prominence in the 1990s.

There was a festive atmosphere as tens of thousands of chanting Hindu devotees waved flags and beat drums - military helicopters showered flower petals on the temple. Saffron flags with pictures of Lord Ram line streets in the city festooned with marigolds, as do banners with the faces of Mr Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Some of India's biggest celebrities, including Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan and cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, attended.

Temple rises from ruins of one of India’s darkest days

Listen: The temple at the heart of Modi's India re-election bid

Transforming a flashpoint holy city into the ‘Hindu Vatican’

In many other northern cities Hindus lit lamps, and saffron flags carrying images of Ram are fluttering on rooftops, including in several parts of Delhi. Cinemas screened the event, and big screens relayed pictures from Ayodhya to town squares and residential neighbourhoods.

The ceremony, called Pran Pratishtha, which loosely translates from Sanskrit into "establishment of life force", lasted about an hour. Hindus believe that chanting mantras and performing rituals around a fire will infuse sacred life in an idol or a photograph of a deity.

Several domestic TV stations built huge sets by the side of the river Saryu, a tributary of the Ganges, just behind the temple, and provided wall-to-wall coverage of the event, some proclaiming the moment of consecration as the start of "Ram Rajya" (Lord Ram's rule) in India.

Hindus celebrated the inauguration in other countries too. Massive billboards of Lord Ram graced Times Square in New York, where a group of devotees braved the freezing weather to gather in the middle of the night.

Temples all across the United Kingdom - where Indians are one of the largest diaspora groups - marked the event. Colourful posters had been shared inviting devotees to honour the occasion and celebrations involved flowers, sweets and music. There were also some celebrations in Muslim-majority Dubai - where Indians are a significant population - but from Indian news reports these appeared more muted than elsewhere.

In 2019, the Supreme Court gave the disputed land to Hindus after a protracted legal battle followed the mosque's demolition. Muslims were given a plot outside the city for a mosque but have yet to build one.

One member of the community the BBC spoke to in Ayodhya ahead of Monday's inauguration agreed that Hindus have the right to build the temple after the Supreme Court gave them the site.

"We did not accept that decision happily, but what can we do," he said. Another man said he was happy Hindus are building the temple - "but we are also sad because it was built after destroying a mosque".

The new three-storey temple - made with pink sandstone and anchored by black granite - stretches across 7.2 acres in a 70-acre complex. A 51-inch (4.25-ft) statue of the deity, specially commissioned for the temple, was unveiled last week. The idol has been placed on a marble pedestal in the sanctum sanctorum.

Thousands of police were deployed for Monday's event, despite Mr Modi having appealed to pilgrims not to turn up and to watch the ceremony on television. In many states a full or half day holiday was called, with schools and colleges closed and stock markets shut.

The build-up to a demolition that shook India

The man who helped Lord Ram win the Ayodhya case

But a sour note was struck with some top religious seers saying that as the temple was not yet complete, it was against Hinduism to perform the rituals there, and many opposition leaders deciding to stay away.

Some opposition-ruled states also announced their own plans for the day - West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she would pray at the iconic temple to goddess Kali in Kolkata and then lead an all-faith rally. The eastern state of Odisha (Orissa) unveiled huge plans to bring pilgrims to the Jagannath temple in Puri, one of the holiest sites for Hindus.

Authorities say they expect more than 150,000 visitors per day once the temple in Ayodhya is fully ready.

To accommodate this expected rush, new hotels are being built and existing ones spruced up as part of a major makeover and in recent weeks, a new airport and railway station have opened.

Officials say they are building a "world-class city where people come as pilgrims and tourists", but many local people have told the BBC that their homes, shops and "structures of religious nature" have been either completely or partially demolished to expand roads and set up other facilities.

[jeevanjali]

Ram Mandir: रामलला की तीन प्रतिमाओं का हुआ है निर्माण,22 जनवरी को मंदिर में होंगी स्थापितRam Mandir: प्रभु राम की जन्मभूमि अयोध्या में राममंदिर का निर्माण तेजी से हो रहा है और नवनिर्मित मंदिर में स्थापित करने के लिए रामलला की प्रतिमा का भी निर्माण हो चुका है आपको बता दें कि राममंदिर में स्थापित करने के लिए तीन प्रतिमाओं का निर्माण किया

[dreamzandexperiences]

Ayodhya : 1 Of The Most Beautiful Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

The spiritual resonance of Ayodhya and the architectural marvel of the Ram Mandir, promise an experience that transcends time, inviting everyone to be a part of this extraordinary pilgrimage.

The Beautiful Ram Mandir in Ayodhya Bloganuary writing promptName an attraction or town close to home that you still haven’t got around to visiting.View all responses Ayodhya: The Most Beautiful Ram Mandir in Ayodhya Awaits – A Journey Yet to Unfold Ram Mandir , Ayodhya In the heart of India, nestled along the banks of the sacred Sarayu River, lies the historic city of Ayodhya, a place…

[jobaaj]

The 500-year wait is over! Lord Ram is home!! Check out the full timeline:🔽🔽 - 1528: According to the history books, Babur's general Mir Baq was in charge of constructing the Babri masjid at the place where Lord Ram was born. The old temple was destroyed to construct the mosque.

- 1530-65: Unverified reports suggest communal violence over the Mandir-Masjid debate and Akbar, the then Mughal ruler, set up a common platform for worship. - 1853-85: After almost 330 years, communal violence erupts again. The British Empire sets up partitions and Mahant Das’s plea to build a canopy above the platform is denied. - 1949: The turning point comes when the idol of Lord Ram appears from inside the mosque. According to Muslims, the idol was placed inside the mosque by a radical Hindu outfit. As both parties file multiple lawsuits, the situation gets more complicated.

- 1950-61: Multiple lawsuits are filed and other parties join the fray with both sides claiming the land as theirs. - 1983-1989: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) starts a nationwide move to build a temple and legal tensions flare up. Muslims set up the Babri Masjid Committee and the former VP of the VHP files a suit on behalf of Lord Ram to get possession and the first stone for the temple is laid. - 1990: BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani’s Rath Yatra from Somnath to Ayodhya saw thousands of volunteers march as they partially damaged the mosque in a scuffle that left scores dead. - 1992: The bloodiest event in the Mandir-Masjid dispute as Hindu volunteers demolish the mosque and a bloody battle erupts throughout the nation. Over 2,000 were reported dead. A small tent is set up where the idol is placed for worship. - 2002: PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee sets up an Ayodhya cell and the Allahabad HC judges begin determining ownership of the site. - 2003: The Archaeological Survey of India begins surveying the area and a survey reveals the existence of a temple’s remains beneath the mosque. Muslims challenge the findings as tensions continue. - 2010: The disputed land is split into 3 parts where one went to the Hindus, another to the Muslims, and the final one to the Nirmohi Akhara. - 2011: All 3 parties approach the Supreme Court to challenge the Allahabad HC’s judgment and the SC issues a stay on the order. - 2015-18: The SC removes all irrelevant parties from the lawsuit as the matter gets more sensitive during that time. - 2019: After a failed mediation attempt, a five-judge bench announces a judgment in favor of the Hindus, and the Muslims are allotted 5 acres for the construction of another mosque. - 2020: PM Narendra Modi lays the foundation stone for the construction alongside a commemorative plaque and a special postage stamp. - 22nd January 2024: The temple is officially consecrated and Lord Ram, who has been in a tent since 1992, is unveiled for worship in a state-of-the-art temple. Follow Jobaaj Stories (the Media arm of Jobaaj.com Group) for more.

[anixknowsnothin]

is there some kind of a celebration in india rn? what's happening?

hi Edith!! India is a secular country but a majority of us are Hindus (those who believe in Hinduism which is a very old religion)

We have holy texts, one of them being the Ramayana, which is about our deity Ram. There are many temples built after him, especially in Ayodhya, the city he was born in.

When Babur, the first Mughal emperor of India, arrived, he constructed Babri Masjid, a mosque that many believe was constructed on top of Ram Janmabhoomi, the exact site where Ram Ji was born. In 1992, it was demolished by a Hindu nationalist group and in 2019, the Supreme Court gave the ruling that a Hindu temple would be made on this land and a mosque will be constructed on another site. Now, the temple has been constructed and today was the inauguration of the Ram Mandir (translates to Ram Temple) and the entire country is celebrating!

[mariacallous]

Much of India came to a standstill on Jan. 22, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi consecrated a temple in the northern city of Ayodhya commemorating Rama, a warrior-king worshipped by Hindus as a god. Schools, colleges, and offices closed and central government offices gave a half-day off to all employees. Some expectant parents even cajoled obstetricians to schedule cesarean sections on the day so that their children are born at the auspicious moment coinciding with the temple’s opening.

Such a public display of religiosity by the Indian government and its leadership may seem peculiar, particularly to those who cherish secularism. But India moved away from the state’s traditional interpretation of secularism a decade ago, when Modi led the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to power. With the next national elections only a few months away, Modi has choreographed the Ram temple consecration to consolidate his Hindu vote (about 80 percent of the country’s population is Hindu). The political intent is clear: Cutouts of Modi grace lampposts on the airport road in Ayodhya, with similar images of Rama added almost as an afterthought. In an audio message on social media this month, Modi said, “God has made me an instrument to represent all the people of India.”

The ongoing construction of Ram Mandir is very controversial in India. From the early 16th century until 1992, a mosque known as Babri Masjid stood on the site—built during the time of the emperor Babur, the first Mughal to rule India. Many Hindus say that Babur destroyed a temple honoring Rama that previously stood on the land, which they believe is Rama’s birthplace. In the 1980s, Hindu activists began a movement to reclaim the site and build a temple there. In December 1992, they razed the mosque, an act that shocked the nation.

But in the past two decades, India has changed, and Hindus clamored for the land to be restored to them. In 2019, the Indian Supreme Court ruled that although the initial act of demolition was illegal, it would offer the site to a Hindu trust to build a temple and grant land elsewhere to a Muslim trust to rebuild a mosque. Although the construction of the Ram Mandir is not yet complete, Modi needs the imagery for his election campaign, and so the consecration will go ahead. Some opposition parties, including the Indian National Congress and the Communist Party of India, did not send their top leadership to the ceremony; however, some Congress leaders were divided over the boycott and at least two attended.

Rama, for many Hindus, is maryada purushottam—the ideal human being who sacrifices himself for others. His is the kind of life to which lesser mortals should aspire; his heroism is based not simply on battlecraft, but upon his ability to put others’ interests before his own. In the Sanskrit epic Ramayana, Rama is the prince of Ayodhya who is about to become king when one of his father’s wives demands that Rama go into exile, and the succession passes to her son instead. Rama leaves with his wife, Sita, and brother Lakshmana. The king of Lanka, Ravana, abducts Sita, and Rama mobilizes an army of monkeys to invade the island fortress, defeating Ravana and rescuing Sita. After 14 years, Rama finally rules Ayodhya, leading to a golden age.

The BJP sees the construction of the Ram Mandir temple as evidence of its single-minded determination, no matter how long it takes. Formed in 1980 by some members of the former Janata Party, the BJP initially struggled electorally. It briefly held power in the 1990s and led a coalition government between 1999 and 2004. In 2014, Modi projected himself as committed to development and boosted the BJP’s vote share to win a majority of seats in parliament with 31 percent of the national vote; five years later, the party increased its tally to 303 seats out of 542, winning 37 percent of the vote. The temple project follows other promises kept by Modi’s government: revoking the special autonomous status of Indian-administered Kashmir and introducing a citizenship act that created a pathway to Indian citizenship for asylum-seekers from neighboring countries but excluded Muslims. Modi has shown that he is the man who gets things done.

The BJP capitalized on three major changes that occurred in India in the 1980s to build its identity and increase its vote share. First, many Indians bristled at how India practiced secularism, perceiving the government as granting special favors to religious communities, such as subsidies for Muslims to perform the Hajj and curriculum exemptions for faith-based schools. Second, Indians were tired of living in an economy beset by sluggish growth and shoddy products due to socialist policies that restricted foreign investment and trade. (That changed in 1991, when the Congress government deregulated the economy.)

Finally, India was a leader in the Non-Aligned Movement, but the appeal of nonalignment was fading with the decline of Soviet influence and the eventual disintegration of the Soviet Union. The Congress party ruled India for most of its first 49 years post-independence, and it was instrumental in developing India’s secularism, socialism, and nonalignment. The BJP took advantage of public disenchantment and stepped into the void, promising “equality for all, appeasement to none,” to promote a market-based economy, and to reset its foreign policy, often aligning with Western interests. (Still, the BJP pursues strategic autonomy in many respects, such as its continuing trade ties with Russia despite Western sanctions.)

Most politicians have the next election on their mind; Modi and the BJP leadership have the next generation in mind. After all, more than 40 percent of Indians have no living memory of the Babri Masjid mosque. Even in the early years, the party began influencing India’s younger generations in the states where it came to power first, changing textbooks and rewriting history to downplay the roles of Mahatma Gandhi and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru (and his family members who later came to power) and project alternative heroes who were more militant and outwardly Hindu. By promoting Rama as the warrior-king who ruled over an ideal state, the BJP aims to create a constituency of voters who see their identity primarily in religious terms and equate the Hindu faith with the nation of India.

To the BJP’s core voters—the hardwired Hindu nationalists—the party has promised to restore Hindu glories, embodied by the Ram Mandir temple. The events in Ayodhya have set a precedent: Some party activists want to transform more mosques (and, in some instances, churches), claiming they were also built where Hindu temples once stood. The triumphalism around the temple construction is so vicious that not only is it the opposition leaders boycotting the event who are facing criticism, but also four seers of the Hindu faith who have raised a range of objections—including the choice of Modi to perform the ceremony, which they say should be presided over by a priest.

The Hindu nationalist movement’s elevation of Rama over other Hindu deities is also strange. Hinduism is polytheistic, and its literature does not rest on one book. Many interpretations are liberal, and some contradict each other: Skepticism and atheism are also part of certain strands of Hinduism. In the late 1980s, I interviewed Morarji Desai, who had served as India’s prime minister representing the Janata Party. I asked him what he thought of the movement to build the Ram temple on the site of Babri Masjid, and he suggested that the BJP’s ultimate goal was to undermine Hinduism’s pluralism and turn it into a faith with one book (the Ramayana), one place of worship (Ayodhya), and one god (Rama). The slogan now reverberating through Ayodhya and much of India is Jai Shri Ram, or “Victory to Lord Rama.”

Rama is an exceptionally interesting and nuanced literary figure and well-loved outside of India, especially in Southeast Asia. But many Indians do not take kindly to works that present Rama in a different light, such as the late poet A.K. Ramanujan’s celebrated essay, “Three Hundred Ramayanas,” which shows how the epic’s characters appear in different forms and offer different interpretations in India and beyond. Nina Paley’s charming 2008 animated film that draws on the Ramayana, Sita Sings the Blues, was also controversial. The latest victim of this outrage is a Tamil film released on Netflix last month, Annapoorani, about the daughter of a Hindu priest who wants to be a chef; her Muslim friend encourages her to pursue her dream, correctly citing a verse from the Ramayana that shows that Rama ate meat. Some Hindus who practice vegetarianism for religious reasons were offended; Netflix withdrew the film, and the actor who played the protagonist issued a public apology on a “Jai Shri Ram” letterhead.

India is no longer a land of nuances. A significant part of its population wants an assertive government and a black-and-white narrative where subjugated Hindus are reclaiming their identity, and the foreigners who colonized the country in the past—the British and, before them, Muslims—are cast as villains. Such an approach risks turning a multidimensional country into a cardboard caricature of itself. The Ram temple consecration marked another milestone on that path—which Modi walks in the hope of getting elected once again.