Ram Mandir consecration | Top developments on January 18, 2024

Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad has carried out a security march  on Rampath, Lata Mangeshkar Chowk and Dharmpath.

India's Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw has posted a video showing Indian PM Narendra Modi unveiling Ram Mandir themed postage stamps.

The Indian Railways is going to livestream Ram Mandir consecration ceremony on at least 9000 screens across stations in the country, said ANI citing sources.

Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam has criticised the high-command of his own party saying declining invitation to Ram Mandir consecration ceremony was not a correct decision.

"...Lord Ram is the soul of India. India can't even be imagined without Lord Ram. So, I think declining the invitation (to pranpratishtha) was not correct and it should be reconsidered," he said.

Six hundred and fifty e-carts are going to be deployed to ferry devotees who are senior citizens, differently able. In addition, pregnant women will also be able to use the e-carts to go to the Ram Mandir, said officials.

Press Trust of India (PTI) quoted Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA) Vice Chairman Vishal Singh who said that a 'hyperloop model' is being prepared for connectivity within Ayodhya. The e-carts are part of it.

Indresh Sharma, a leader of the Rashtriya Sawamsevak Sangh (RSS) has accused opposition parties of politicising the issue of Ram Mandir

"Some are doing the politics of opposing the Ram Temple and they are saying that those in support are politicising it... Congress said that they would not visit Pran Pratishtha but now their leaders visited every place..." he was quoted by ANI.

All central government offices to be closed for half day on January 22 in view of 'Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha' in Ayodhya, Indian Minister of Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh announced. 

Almost seven decades after the first court case was filed over the Ayodhya-Babri Masjid dispute in post-independence India, in 2019, the country’s Supreme Court delivered a landmark verdict paving the way for the construction of Ram Mandir.

With the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony in the Indian city of Ayodhya is just a few days away, let’s take a look at the significant events leading up to the moment that millions across the country, if not the world, have been looking forward to for years now. 

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"On January 22, we will celebrate 'Pran Pratishtha' like Diwali. We plan to install large TV screens in temples and invite people to watch the ceremony live. Additionally, we will distribute 'Prasad' when it's being distributed in Ayodhya," Uttarakhand BJP President Mahendra Bhatt told news agency PTI days ahead of the Ram Mandir 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony in the Indian city of Ayodhya on January 22.

He added, "Every household will light five 'diyas'. It will be an important event, and we will celebrate Ram Deepawali in Uttarakhand." 

The Indian weather agency, India Meteorological Department (IMD), on Thursday launched a dedicated webpage to provide weather updates about Ayodhya and its nearby areas. 

This included temperature, precipitation, humidity, and wind patterns in several languages Hindi, English, Urdu, Spanish, French, and Chinese. 

Days ahead of the consecration ceremony, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi released Commemorative Postage Stamps on Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir and a book of stamps issued on Lord Ram around the world. 

Rice, wheat and other types of grains are being collected at an old Ram temple in south Delhi and will be sent to Ayodhya to mark the 'Pran Pratishtha' at the new temple in the holy city, PTI news agency said. 

"Lord Ram is everywhere and on January 22, we will celebrate the occasion in Delhi with a zeal and devotion, assuming we are in the holy place of Ayodhya," joint secretary of the three decade-old society named 'Shri Sanatan Dharm Sabha' Pawan Sharma said.

Union Minister Som Parkash on Wednesday (Jan 17) said that there will be four special trains that will take devotees from Punjab to Ayodhya temple city in February. This announcement came days ahead of the grand consecration ceremony of the idol of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya on January 22.

For people flocking to the Ayodhya temple city, a large model of Ram Mandir has been placed where devotees can click selfies. 

On the occasion of Ram temple consecration in Ayodhya, all the 8,911 railway stations across the country will be lit up, media reports said.