The inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, the sacred birthplace of Lord Ram, marked the realization of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for a "New India," according to reports in the US media.
Devout Hindus from across the nation tuned in to witness the historic consecration ceremony through early morning TV broadcasts, creating a sense of unity as a cold wave swept through northern India. This significant event is considered the pinnacle for Prime Minister Modi's government and its aspirations, occurring just months before he seeks an unprecedented third term in upcoming elections, a feat not achieved by any non-Congress Prime Minister, as reported by various media outlets.
The construction of the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya has been a three-decade-long endeavor, poised to provide a substantial boost to Modi's election campaign, as highlighted by CNN. The temple stands as a realization of Modi's ambition to shape a "new India," which some perceive as a shift toward a "Hindu Rashtra." Critics view the temple's inauguration as the culmination of a prolonged effort to distance India from its secular roots established by the Congress government led by the first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, after gaining independence.
During the ceremony, attended by a diverse 7,000-strong crowd, Modi declared, "Today our Lord Ram has come." The newly-constructed temple, adorned with vibrant flowers, hosted notable figures, including billionaire Mukesh Ambani, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, South Indian icon Rajinikanth, and Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan.
Monday's event fulfills a promise made by Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party government to voters, propelling them to power in 2014. The commitment to build a temple on the site of a 16th-century mosque, demolished in a 1992 attack by Hindu hardliners, played a pivotal role in the BJP's rise in mainstream politics.
While addressing the gathering, Modi refrained from directly mentioning the Babri Masjid or the country's Muslim population. Instead, he spoke of moving forward and "the beginning of a new time cycle." The US media, particularly CNN, provided a detailed account of the Pran Pratishtha, or consecration ceremony, overseen by Modi, depicting the installation of an idol of Lord Ram as a young boy inside the sanctum sanctorum.
The long-standing dispute over the land, contested for decades between Hindu and Muslim religious entities, was settled by the country's apex court. It granted the land to Hindus for the construction of a temple and another portion to Muslims for a mosque. US media highlighted the celebration of the event by millions of Hindus in various cities worldwide, with New York's Times Square illuminated with images of Lord Ram ahead of the ceremony, as reported by Newsweek.
(With Agency Inputs)
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