Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Ayodhya for the first time since the historic Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan in 2020. He inaugurated the Airport and the newly constructed Ayodhya Dham Railway Station. During his visit, he also took part in a public roadshow and participated in the inauguration of Ram Mandir. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that 255 km out of the 272-km rail link has been completed. The visit is seen as a milestone in the development of Ayodhya as a modern pilgrimage destination.
In a surprising turn of events, BJP's candidate Lallu Singh is trailing behind SP's Awadesh Prasad in Faizabad constituency, where the Ayodhya Ram Mandir was recently inaugurated in a grand event. This is a big blow to the saffron party, which was expected to emerge victorious in this key constituency. The trends of the Lok Sabha election results also show a strong performance by the I.N.D.I.A bloc, consisting of the SP and Congress, in the saffron heartland of Uttar Pradesh. With the NDA and Congress-led coalition leading in 37 and 42 seats respectively, the battle for the most number of Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh remains tight.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's return to Ayodhya after three and a half months was marked by a grand welcome from thousands of people lining the route, showering flower petals and chanting mantras. The city was dressed in its Sunday best and adorned with twinkling lights, creating a fairyland-like atmosphere. This visit marks PM Modi's first trip to Ayodhya since the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Mandir in January, and he was greeted by numerous saints and citizens carrying placards showing their support.
At the launch of a book on the yearnings for the Ram Mandir, retired Supreme Court judge and National Human Rights Commission Chairperson Justice Arun Mishra highlighted the need for Parliament to function like 'Ram Rajya'. He stated that the ideals of the Hindu god and king, Lord Ram, should be preserved in the Indian Constitution, which calls for justice for all religions and social development for all. Justice Mishra also expressed his belief that the return of Lord Ram to his rightful place at Ayodhya reflects his relevance and inspiration even in modern times.
In a mega rally in Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that the decision to build Ram Mandir in Ayodhya should have been taken right after India gained Independence in 1947. He criticized the Congress party for delaying the construction and accused them of disrespecting the temple. PM Modi also urged the people to vote for the BJP in the upcoming elections.
The Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka has lodged a case against BJP candidate Tejasvi Surya for posting a video on a social media platform that aimed to garner votes through religious sentiment. Surya had shared a video of 'Surya Tilak' being performed at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, urging people to support his party. He faces a tough competition from Congress candidate Sowmyam Reddy in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. In his defense, Surya stated that while BJP supporters make up the majority, they do not turn out to vote as actively as Congress supporters.
On April 21, 2024, the recently inaugurated Ayodhya Ram Mandir will be showered with a whopping 1, 11,111 kilograms of laddoos as prasad on the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami. The tradition of sending laddoos to various temples, including Tirupati Balaji and Kashi Vishwanath, will continue this year, thanks to the Devraha Hans Baba Trust. Amidst extended temple timings and a vibrant atmosphere, visitors can witness the celebratory shringar, abhishek, and mangala aarti, and even take part in bhog and shayan aarti before indulging in the delicious prasad.
South African cricketer Keshav Maharaj, who will be training with Lucknow Super Giants for IPL 2024, recently visited Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. He shared a picture on social media and expressed his excitement for the opening of the temple, which he hopes will bring peace and enlightenment. LSG will begin their IPL 2024 season against Rajasthan Royals on March 24.
Authors Amish Tripathi and Bhavna Roy discuss their latest book, "Idols: Unearthing the Power of Murti Puja" at The Hindu Lit Fest 2024 with dancer, choreographer and writer Anita Ratnam. The book focuses on the Deshpande family and their conversations about choosing a Ganesha idol for the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, delving into the philosophy and history of idol worship. Mr. Tripathi also shares his experience of viewing the Ram Lalla murti at the inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, noting the economic and social significance of temples in traditional Indian society.
In a video message, Gurmeet Ram Rahim, who was released from jail on parole, has urged his followers to celebrate the consecration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya as Diwali. This is the ninth time that he has been granted parole in the last four years. Ram Rahim was sentenced to 20 years in jail for rape and murder in 2017 and is currently lodged in Sunaria jail.